Regiments in Indian Army

-by Abhrajita Mondal

–Reading Time – 7 min Approx

–Edited by – Srishti Bhattacharyya

The Indian Army guards the borders while we are asleep safely in our homes. You will be simply amazed to know about the wide range of battalions and regiments in Indian army. To know about them fully, you need to understand the organizational structure and its various formations. However, before getting into the details, one must know about the origins of the army. You can trace it back to colonial times under the British. When the British took over India, they needed a local command. So the Indians were the ones who joined in. The British established various regiments based on military history, race, and caste. Moreover, they also gave each regiment a distinct identity by way of dress, customs, tradition, as well as pride.

First to discuss is the Oldest Regiment of Indian Army. The Madras Regiment was formed in 1758 followed by the Punjab Regiment in 1761. Many more regiments were formed after this. The information will be deemed incomplete without discussing all of them.

Regiments In Indian Army Decoded:

The various regiments formed before independence in 1947 are:

• Maratha Light Infantry (1768)
• Rajputana Rifles (1775)
• Rajput Regiment (1778)
• The Grenadiers (1778)
• Kumaon Regiment (1813)
• 1 Gorkha Rifles (1815)
• 3 Gorkha Rifles (1815)
• 9 Gorkha Rifles (1817)
• Jammu & Kashmir Rifles (1821)
• 8 Gorkha Rifles (1824)
• Sikh Regiment (1846)
• 4 Gorkha Rifles (1857),
• 5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) (1858)
• Dogra Regiment (1877)
• Garhwal Rifles (1887)
• 11 Gorkha Rifles (1918-22 and from 1948)
• Mahar Regiment (1941)
• Bihar Regiment (1941)
• Assam Regiment (1941)
• Sikh Light Infantry (1944)
• Parachute Regiment (1945)
• Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry (1947)

How Many Regiments Are There in Indian Army 2020?

The Indian army is one of the oldest in the world. Moreover, it is also the third-largest army in the world. There are 1.4 million active soldiers in the army. Secondly, there are about 2.1 million reserve soldiers and 1.3 million para-military forces. The total number of regiments in Indian army is almost 300.

Moreover, each regiment has 1,500-2,000 highly-trained soldiers. The Indian army also keeps changing the regiments to ensure impartiality and extra security.

You can also call these the top 10 regiments in Indian army.

• Bihar Regiments
• Parachute Regiments
• Punjab Regiments
• Madras Regiments
• Rajput Regiments
• Jatt Regiments
• Sikh Regiments
• Gorkha Regiments
• Garhwal rifle
• Brigade of Guard, etc.

Interesting Things to Know About the Regiments:

The Brigade of Guard is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Indian army. It is the first regiment, raised in 1949, where soldiers from all over India could serve. The troops have received the maximum badge of honor after Independence. Currently, the Brigade of Guard regiment has three battalions – regular, territorial, and a Rashtriya Rifles.

The Parachute Regiment is an airborne regiment. Moreover, it was formed in 1945. It was dismantled after World War II. However, it was re-unstated once again in the year 1952. The regiment has 17 battalions. In fact, it was the first airborne formation. The parachute regiment has always been active in the field of mountaineering. The force is trained in various segments.

The Punjab Regiment has 20 battalions and has won 535 medals. Moreover, they have also won the Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Sena Medal. The Punjab Regiment is one of the most senior regional infantry regiments. It has also been featured in the movie ‘Lakshya’. It is the only regiment of the Indian Army having a naval galley. Sounds really interesting, isn’t it? Another fact is that the name ‘Punjab regiment’ is common to both the Indian and Pakistan armies.

The Madras regiment, which is the oldest one, has many awards to its credit. The regiment has earned Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, amongst others. Moreover, the regiment has won 470 medals in all. There are 21 battalions in the regiment. The British East India Company initially formed the regiment to fight the French. The regiment recruits its soldiers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

The Sikh Regiment has won 690 medals in total, Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, and Mahavir Chakra, to name a few. There are 20 battalions in the Sikh Regiment. Their war cry is ‘Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal’. 21 soldiers from the Sikh Regiment fought in the battle of Saragarhi, against 10,000 Pashtun tribesmen. It is hailed as one of the most terrific wars of all time. Moreover, the Sikh Regiment has fought in all wars after 1846, including the two World Wars. The Sikhs won 28 battle honors, in World War I and World War II.

You should also know a few things about the Gorkha Regiment. The Gorkha Regiment has won a total of 520 medals. There are at least 39 battalions under the Gorkha Regiment serving across the country. They are one of the most feared regiments. Officers in the Gorkha Regiment have to learn the Gorkhali language. Most of the Troops are from Nepal.

Types of Infantry in Indian Army:

The Indian Infantry is made up of various regiments. The regiments in turn are made up of battalions. The battalion is again divided into four rifle companies. Moreover, an infantry battalion has about 15-20 officers and 650 other ranks. The Colonel or the Commanding Officer leads an infantry battalion. An infantry regiment soldier is the most hardened of the lot. They are always ready to face any situation and are trained for close combat and generally fight on foot.

There is a normal line of infantry. The light infantry came much later. The soldiers of the light infantry use lighter equipment and weapons, new tactics, and drills. Now, the new infantry can move around and get into combat freely. The regiments that you came across today are regular infantry. They are named according to the caste and state they belong to. Moreover, it is one of the youngest regiments in the Indian army. It comprises twenty-seven battalions. Created after the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the infantry battalions have greater mobility.

The mechanized infantry regiment has the experience of operating at very high altitudes in Ladakh and Sikkim. The regimental center is in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Moreover, the motto of the regiment is valor and faith. The other regiments are armored regiments and artillery regiments. Now, you have received the answer to the ‘types of infantry in Indian army’.

Insignia Of India’s Glorious Regiments:

You should know about the insignia of Indian army regiments. Every infantry regiment has its own insignia. It gives the regiment a distinct identity. The insignia symbolizes the culture, principles, and ethics of the said regiment. Today, you will know about the meanings of the badges of the regiments of the Indian army. The Brigade of Guards is India’s first mixed infantry, they have a Garuda as a symbol. The Garuda is a symbol of ferocious power and speed. You can trace its roots back to the Mahabharata. The parachute regiment has the parachute as their insignia. It has wings spreading out and a dagger digging through the top. The special forces, which is a part of the Parachute Regiment, has a separate insignia called ‘Balidaan’.

Punjab Regiment is the only one to have a naval symbol. Moreover, the symbol includes a galley, with oars, and a sail. The Rajput Rifles have a ‘katar’ as their insignia. Additionally, it is the most senior rifle regiment. The Upper-class Rajputs hold a lot of respect for the Katar or dagger. Furthermore, the katar and bugle are a representation of their insignia. The Sikh Regiment uses a Chakra as their insignia, a Tiger is placed within the chakra. It symbolizes gallantry and power.

The Madras Regiment boasts of an elephant emblem. They wear the emblem on their badges and also belts. The Jatt Regiment is also a prominent one, and it has the Roman numeral nine representing its position in the hierarchy. The Ashoka Lion is the insignia for the Bihar Regiment. The state is also deeply connected to Ashoka, who ruled the Mauryan Empire. That is one reason for the emblem. These are a few of the insignia of Indian army regiments.

You ought to know about the uniform of the army as well. The British East India Company, the authorities of the time, made the uniform in a Khaki tone. This helps the soldiers to camouflage. The Indian army uniform comprises of shirt, trousers, and cap. The armed forces wear badges along with the uniform.

Now, you know about the Indian army and its hierarchy. However, this is just a small glimpse into the expansive hierarchical structure.

-by Abhrajita Mondal

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