CM Samrat Choudhary Salutes NSG on Foundation Day
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary marked NSG Foundation Day on 16 October 2026, saluting the force's 'indomitable courage and dedication' as the Black Cats completed 42 years since their founding in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary posted a tribute on X on 16 October 2026 to mark NSG Foundation Day .
The National Security Guard was established on 16 October 1984 under the Ministry of Home Affairs .
The force was created in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi .
NSG personnel are commonly known as 'Black Cats' and serve as India's primary federal counter-terrorism unit.
CM Choudhary described the force's courage and national service as an 'inspiration for all' .
Forty-two years after India's elite counter-terrorism force was born out of crisis, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary paused on 16 October 2026 to honour the men and women who stand between the nation and its most dangerous threats.
Posting on X to mark NSG Foundation Day, CM Choudhary wrote: 'राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा गार्ड के स्थापना दिवस पर देश की सुरक्षा के लिए समर्पित सभी वीर जवानों को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ' — 'Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the brave soldiers dedicated to the security of the country on the Foundation Day of the National Security Guard.' He called their 'indomitable courage, sense of duty, and dedication to national service an inspiration for all of us.'
The force born from a nation's darkest week
The National Security Guard was formally raised on 16 October 1984 under the Ministry of Home Affairs — weeks after Operation Blue Star and in the immediate shadow of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. That violent confluence exposed a critical gap in India's security architecture: the country lacked a dedicated federal unit trained to respond swiftly to terrorism, hijackings, and hostage situations. The NSG was the answer.
Modelled partly on elite Western counter-terrorism units, the force drew personnel from both the Army and Central Armed Police Forces. Its black-clad operators — nicknamed the 'Black Cats' — became a national symbol of precision and fearlessness, most visibly during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, when NSG commandos conducted multi-site operations across the city for nearly 60 hours.
A ritual of recognition, and what it signals
Tributes from state leaders on the foundation days of central security forces have become a consistent feature of Indian political culture — a cross-party acknowledgment that the men and women guarding the republic deserve visible, public respect. For a senior BJP leader and sitting chief minister, the gesture also reinforces a broader party emphasis on security-force valorisation as a political and civic value.
The salute lands on a milestone anniversary, a reminder that the force's founding moment — born of tragedy — shaped an institution that has defined India's counter-terrorism doctrine for four decades and counting.
Point of View
A tribute from the state level to a central force also signals cooperative federalism on national security themes. The NSG's founding story — rooted in one of India's most traumatic political weeks — gives any anniversary message an inherent weight that transcends routine ceremony. Whether the tribute translates into any fresh policy push for NSG modernisation from the Bihar government is unlikely but worth watching if MHA follows up.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the NSG founded?
The National Security Guard was formally established on 16 October 1984 , under the Ministry of Home Affairs , following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Why is NSG called the Black Cats?
NSG commandos are nicknamed the 'Black Cats' because of their distinctive black uniforms and insignia. The name reflects their elite, stealthy counter-terrorism role.
What did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary say on NSG Foundation Day?
CM Choudhary congratulated all NSG personnel on their Foundation Day on 16 October 2026 , calling their courage, sense of duty, and dedication to national service an inspiration for all citizens.
What is NSG's role in India?
The NSG is India's federal counter-terrorism force, tasked with responding to terrorism, hijackings, and hostage situations. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and draws personnel from the Army and Central Armed Police Forces.
What was NSG's most famous operation?
NSG commandos are most widely recognised for their role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks , during which they conducted multi-site counter-terrorism operations for nearly 60 hours .
