CM Mohan Yadav salutes NSG on Raising Day
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav paid tribute to the National Security Guard on its Raising Day, honouring the Black Cats' 42 years of counter-terrorism service since their founding on 16 October 1984.
Key Takeaways
NSG Raising Day falls on 16 October every year, marking the force's constitution in 1984 .
The NSG was established in the immediate aftermath of Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi .
Mohan Yadav praised the NSG's 'indomitable courage, discipline, sacrifice, and valour.' The NSG, nicknamed the 'Black Cats,' operates under India's Ministry of Home Affairs as a federal counter-terrorism unit.
Indian political leaders across parties routinely mark raising days of elite security forces as a civic and political gesture.
Forty-two years after India's most elite counter-terrorism force was born in the shadow of national crisis, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav marked NSG Raising Day on 16 October 2026 with a tribute to the Black Cats — honouring their discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering service to the nation.
In his message posted on X, Dr. Yadav wrote: 'Adamya sahas, anushasan, tyag aur veerta ke nav pratiman sthapit karte hue NSG ne desh ki suraksha mein ullekhaniya bhumika nibhai hai' — ('Setting new benchmarks of indomitable courage, discipline, sacrifice, and valour, the NSG has played a remarkable role in the security of the nation.')
Born in crisis: the NSG's founding moment
The National Security Guard was constituted on 16 October 1984 — a date that arrived just weeks after Operation Blue Star and in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The government needed a rapid-response, specially trained counter-terrorism unit unlike anything in the existing security architecture. The result was the NSG — federal, elite, and purpose-built for the most dangerous assignments India could face.
Their distinctive black overalls and balaclavas earned them the enduring nickname 'Black Cats', a call sign now synonymous with India's highest-stakes hostage rescue and counter-terror operations. The force operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and draws personnel from both the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces.
Why raising-day tributes carry political weight
Across India's political spectrum, raising-day messages to central paramilitary and special forces have become a consistent civic ritual — a public signal of solidarity with the men and women who operate where ordinary policing ends. For a state chief minister like Dr. Yadav, the gesture extends beyond protocol: it ties the BJP's national-security identity to the grassroots visibility that regional leaders cultivate.
The CM's closing line captured the tone precisely, calling the NSG commandos' dedication and 'unparalleled valour' an 'prernasrot' — a source of inspiration — for every citizen of the country.
Point of View
Born as it was from one of independent India's darkest fortnights. When a BJP chief minister invokes the Black Cats' 'new benchmarks of valour,' it reinforces the party's long-running positioning as the guardian of hard national-security credibility. The gesture costs little politically but consistently yields returns in the optics of strength and patriotism that the BJP prizes at every level of government. At the same time, the routine cross-party nature of such tributes signals that honouring elite security forces has become one of Indian democracy's rare uncontested terrains.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is NSG Raising Day celebrated?
NSG Raising Day is celebrated every year on 16 October , marking the date the National Security Guard was constituted in 1984 .
Why was the NSG formed in 1984?
The NSG was formed on 16 October 1984 in response to the national security crisis triggered by Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi , creating the need for a dedicated federal counter-terrorism force.
Why is the NSG called the Black Cats?
NSG commandos are nicknamed the 'Black Cats' because of their signature black overalls and balaclavas worn during operations. The name has become synonymous with India's elite rapid-response capability.
What did CM Mohan Yadav say on NSG Raising Day 2026?
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav praised the NSG for setting 'new benchmarks of indomitable courage, discipline, sacrifice, and valour,' calling their dedication an inspiration for every Indian citizen.
Which ministry controls the NSG in India?
The National Security Guard operates under India's Ministry of Home Affairs and draws its personnel from both the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces.
