The elite cavalry regiment that protects India's President and fights in the high Himalayas

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The President's Bodyguard is the senior-most unit in the Indian Army, serving as both a ceremonial household cavalry and a highly trained combat force. From its origins as a small 18th-century troop, it has evolved into a versatile regiment that balances palace duties with high-altitude warfare and international peacekeeping.

Raised in September 1773 by Governor-General Warren Hastings, the unit began with 50 troopers from the Moghal Horse, later doubling in size with recruits from the Maharaja of Benares. Originally known as the Governor-General's Bodyguard, it served the British Raj until the Partition of India in 1947. During this transition, the regiment was split between India and Pakistan. A famous anecdote from this period involves a coin toss between Colonel Thakur Govind Singh and Sahabzada Yaqub Khan to decide the fate of the Viceroy's gold-plated buggy, which India ultimately won.

Renamed the President's Bodyguard on January 27, 1950, the regiment maintains a unique identity. Recruitment is strictly balanced, with personnel drawn in equal thirds from Sikh Jats, Hindu Jats, and Rajputs, primarily from the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Candidates must meet a minimum height requirement of 1.84 metres. While they are iconic for their ceremonial roles at the Rashtrapati Bhavan—often mounted on horses—the regiment is also a combat-ready unit. Its members are trained as paratroopers and tank-men, and they have been deployed in major conflicts, including the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War.

The regiment's operational versatility is evident in its long-term presence in extreme environments. It has maintained a rotating section in the Siachen glacier for years and has contributed to international UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Angola, and Sierra Leone. Despite its historical roots, the unit remains a modern force, with an establishment that has fluctuated significantly over centuries, from a modest 50 men at its inception to a peak of 1,929 in 1845. Today, it typically operates at squadron strength, continuing the tradition of excellence established by its first commander, Captain Sweeny Toone.

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