Indian Army Regiments
Regiments form the backbone of the Indian Army, known for their bravery and courage. These units have rich histories, having played crucial roles in numerous battles and campaigns, both within India and globally. The Indian Army comprises multiple regiments, each with its unique background, traditions, and responsibilities. The specific count of regiments may change due to organizational adjustments. This article aims to highlight different regiments, their remarkable accomplishments, and introduce their impactful mottos and war cries.
Infantry Regiments in Indian Army
There are a total of 27 Regiments in the Indian army. All the list is given below also you can read more about Indian army regiments in the below section.
1. Brigade of The Guards
The Brigade of The Guards is a mechanized infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised as the first “all India”, “all class” infantry unit of the Army where troops from all over India serve together, unlike other regiments which recruit from specific regions, ethnic groups or religions.
The Brigade of The Guards made a record by being awarded the most battle honors after Indian independence. The regiment was the idea of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, who was the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian Army. With its raising, He coined the phrase; “The Guards, The Elite”.
| Motto(s) | Pahla Hamesha Pahla (First Always First) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Garud Ka Hun Bol Pyare (I am the son of Garuda, Say O my friend) |
2. Parachute Regiment
The Parachute Regiment is an airborne and special forces regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1945 as part of the British Indian Army but was disbanded after World War II and then re-raised in 1952 but now as the part of the Indian Army. Currently it comprises of ten Special Forces, five airborne, two Territorial Army and one Rashtriya Rifles battalions.
| Motto(s) | Shatrujeet (The Conqueror) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | “Balidan Param Dharma” |
3. Mechanised Infantry Regiment
The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising 27 battalions dispersed under various armoured formations throughout India. Together with the 21 battalions of Brigade of the Guards, they form part of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which along with the Armoured Corps form the Mechanised Forces.
| Motto(s) | Valour & Faith |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Bolo Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India) |
4. Punjab Regiment
The Punjab Regiment is the second oldest regiments still in service in the Indian Army, and is the most senior regional infantry regiment. It was formed from the 2nd Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army in 1947 and has taken part in various battles and wars.
Prior to independence and partition there were a number of “Punjab Regiments” in the British Indian Army. These were amalgamated to form six regiments: the 1st Punjab Regiment, the 2nd Punjab Regiment, the 8th Punjab Regiment, the 14th Punjab Regiment, the 15th Punjab Regiment and the 16th Punjab Regiment.
| Motto(s) | Khushki wa Tari/Sthal Wa Jal (By Land and Sea) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal (He who cries God is Truth, is Ever Happy) (Sikh) |
5. The Madras Regiment
The Madras Regiment is the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian Army, originating in the 1750s. The regiment took part in numerous campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the post-independence Indian Army.
The Madras Regiment was initially formed as the Madras European Regiment in the 1660s by the East India Company as the second company established in India. However, it was formed as a battalion in 1748 under the command of Major Stringer Lawrence. The battalion was involved in all the battles against the French forces in India.
| Motto(s) | Swadharme Nidhanam Shreyaha (It is a glory to die doing one’s duty) |
|---|---|
| War cry | “VEER MADRASSI, ADI KOLLU, ADI KOLLU, ADI KOLLU !” |
6. The Grenadiers
The Grenadiers is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly part of the Bombay Army and later the pre-independence British Indian Army, and then it was known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers.
It has played a major role during the two world wars and also since the Independence of India. The regiment has won many battle honours and gallantry awards, and is considered to be one of India’s most decorated regiments as it is the awardee of three Param Vir Chakra in three different conflicts.
| Motto(s) | Sarvada Shaktishali (Ever Powerful) |
|---|---|
| Warcry | Sarvada Shaktishali |
7. Maratha Light Infantry
The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was established as Bombay Sepoys, raised in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment in the Indian Army. The class composition of the regiment was and is primarily formed by Maratha recruits from the former Maratha Empire.
The men are mostly drawn from all over the state of Maharashtra, with some percentage from Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka including Coorg. The regimental centre has been in Belgaum, Karnataka, since 1922, which was part of the Bombay Presidency at that time.
| Motto(s) | Duty, Honour, Courage |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Bola Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai (Hail Victory To King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) |
8. Rajputana Rifles
The Rajputana Rifles is the second rifle regiment after Madras Regiment regiments of the Indian Army. It was originally a part of the British Indian Army, when six previously existing regiments were amalgamated to form six battalions of the 6th Rajputana Rifles.
In 1945 the numeral designation was dropped from the title and in 1947 the regiment was transferred to the newly independent Indian Army. Since independence, the regiment has been involved in a number of conflicts against Pakistan, as well as contributing to the Custodian Force (India) in Korea under the aegis of the United Nations in 1953-54 and to the UN Mission to the Congo in 1962.
| Motto(s) | Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (वीर भोग्य वसुंधरा ) “The Brave Shall Inherit the Earth” |
|---|---|
| Warcry | Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai “Hail Lord Raja Ramachandra” |
9. Jat Regiment
The Jat Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, of which it is one of the longest-serving and most-known regiments. The regiment won 19 battle honours between 1839 and 1947, and post-independence it has won five battle honours, including 2 Victoria Cross, 8 Mahavir Chakras, 8 Kirti Chakras, 34 Shaurya Chakras, 39 Vir Chakras and 170 Sena Medals.
During its 200-year service history, the regiment has participated in various actions and operations in India and abroad, including the First and the Second World Wars.
| Motto(s) | Sangathan Va Veerta (Unity And Valour) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan (The Jat is powerful, Victory to god!) |
10. Sikh Regiment
The Sikh Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Sikh regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army and in 1979, the 1st battalion was the Commonwealth’s most decorated battalion with 245 pre-independence and 82 post-independence gallantry awards, when it was transformed into the 4th battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment.
The first battalion of the regiment was officially raised just before the partial annexation of the Sikh Empire on 1 August 1846, by the British East India Company. Currently, the Sikh Regimental Centre is located in Ramgarh Cantonment, Jharkhand. The Centre was earlier located in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
| Motto(s) | Nischay Kar Apni Jeet Karon (With determination, I will be triumphant). |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Bole So Nihal Sat Sri Akaal (one will be blessed eternally who says that God is the ultimate) |
11. Gorkha Rifles
Since the independence of India in 1947, as per the terms of the Britain–India–Nepal Tripartite Agreement, six Gorkha regiments, formerly part of the British Indian Army, became part of the Indian Army and have served ever since. The troops are mainly from ethnic Gurkha communities of Nepal.
A seventh Gorkha Rifles regiment was re-raised in the Indian Army after Independence to accommodate Gorkha soldiers of 7th Gurkha Rifles and the 10th Gurkha Rifles who chose not to transfer to the British Army.
| Motto(s) | Yatraham Vijayastatra (We are the Metaphor for Victory) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | “Jai Maha Kali, Aayo Gorkhali! (Hail Goddess Kali, the Gorkhas are here!)” |
12. Dogra Regiment
The Dogra Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its roots directly to the 17th Dogra Regiment of the British Indian Army.
Units of the Dogra Regiment have fought in almost all conflicts of independent India. It is one of the most prestigious and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army.
| Motto(s) | Kartavyam Anvatma (Duty Before Death) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Jwala Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Goddess Jwala) |
13. Garhwal Regiment
The Garhwal Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.
It served during the frontier campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, as well as in both the World Wars and the wars fought after Independence. It is mainly made up of Garhwali people (People from seven districts of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region.
| Motto(s) | Yudhaya Krit Nishchaya (Fight With Determination) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Badri Vishal Lal Ki Jai (Victory to the Sons of Lord Badri Nath) |
14. Kumaon Regiment
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars, and is one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian army.
The Kumaon Regimental Centre, established at Ranikhet, recruits Rajputs and Brahmins from the Kumaon region, and Ahirs from the plains
| Motto(s) | Parakramo Vijayate (Valour Triumphs) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Kalika Mata Ki Jai (Victory to the Great Goddess Kali) |
15. Assam Regiment
The Assam Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. The regiment consists of 25 battalions: 15 regular battalions, 3 Rashtriya Rifles battalions, and 5 Territorial Army battalions (including 2 ecological battalions). It recruits exclusively from all eight Northeastern states of India.
| Motto(s) | Asam Vikram (Unique Valour) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Rhino Charge |
16. Bihar Regiment
The Bihar Regiment is an Indian regiment of the Indian Army. It traces its origins back to the British Indian Army. The Bihar Regiment was formed in 1941 by regularizing the 11th Territorial Battalion, and the 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and raising new battalions. The Bihar Regimental Centre is located at Danapur Cantonment, Patna, the second oldest cantonment in India.
INS Vikramaditya, the Indian Navy’s largest ship and its sole aircraft carrier is affiliated to the Bihar Regiment, Indian Army’s highly decorated and battle-hardened unit. The regiment also distinguishes itself by having the highest number of Rashtriya Rifles battalions among all regiments of the Indian Army.
| Motto(s) | Karam Hi Dharam (Work is Worship) |
|---|---|
| War Cries | Jai Bajrang Bali (Victory to Bajrang Bali) and Birsa Munda Ki Jai (Victory to Birsa Munda) |
17. Mahar Regiment
The Mahar Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Although it was originally intended to be a regiment consisting of troops from the Mahar community of Maharashtra, today the Mahar Regiment is composed of different communities from mainly states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
The Mahars considered original inhabitants of Maharashtra. The community, also known as “Kathiwale” (Men with sticks), Bhumiputra (Sons of the Soil), Mirasi (Landlords) by tradition has the role of defending village boundaries from outsiders, invading tribes, criminals, and thieves. They also were also responsible for maintaining law and order throughout the villages as administrators. The Mahars have a long and proud tradition of bearing arms.
| Motto(s) | Yash Sidhi (Success & Attainment) |
|---|---|
| War cry | Bolo Hindustan Ki Jay (Say Victory to India) |
18. Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. Its origins lay in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. After the accession of the state to the Indian Union in October 1947, the State Forces came under the command of the Indian Army.
They remained in the original form until 1956 when Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly effectively ratified the state’s accession to India. Then the State Forces became the Jammu and Kashmir Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1963, the designation was changed to Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. After the conversion, the Ladakh Scouts came under the aegis of the Regiment, where it remained until raised as a separate Regiment in 2002.
| Motto(s) | Prashata Ranvirta (“Valour in Battle is Praiseworthy”) |
|---|---|
| War Cry | Durga Mata Ki Jai (“Victory to Mother Durga”) |
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