Brief History of President's Bodyguard

History of President’s Bodyguard

• The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard (later the Viceroy’s Bodyguard) in 1773.
• As the President of India’s own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.
• This distinction was conferred on the President’s Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service.
• Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.
• On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard. Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment.
• Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner.
• Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.
• The President’s Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings.
• It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen.
• Today, the President’s Bodyguard is a select body of hand-picked men with special physical attributes. They are chosen after a rigorous and physically gruelling process.
• The President’s Bodyguard has seen war-time duty and a detachment currently serves on the Siachen Glacier.
• Its men have served with the IPKF in Sri Lanka and as part of UN Peace-Keeping Missions.
• President of India presented silver trumpet and trumpet banner to the President’s bodyguard on November 17, 2017