Units

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment

THE MECHANISED INFANTRY

Regimental Uniform of The Brigade of the Guards
  • Regimental Centre: Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
  • Regimental Insignia: A rifle bayonet mounted on a BMP-1, depicting the infantry and mechanised facets of the Regiment.
  • Regimental Motto: Valour & Faith.
  • War Cry: Bol Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Say Victory to Mother India).
  • Regimental Battalions: 1st Battalion (former 1 Madras, raised 1776)
    .................................2nd Battalion (former 1 Jat LI, raised 1803)
    .................................3rd Battalion (former 1/8 Gorkha Rifles, raised 1824)
    .................................4th Battalion (former 1 Sikh, raised 1846)
    .................................5th Battalion (former 14 Kumaon, raised 1832)
    .................................6th Battalion (former 1 Garwhal Rifles, raised 1886)
    .................................7th Battalion (former 1 Dogra, raised 1887)
    .................................8th Battalion (former 7 Punjab, raised 1941)
    .................................9th Battalion (former 7 Grenadiers, raised 1949)
    .................................10th Battalion (former 20 Maratha LI, raised 1949)
    .................................11th Battalion (former 18 Rajputana Rifles, raised 1941)
    .................................12th Battalion (former 16 Mahar, raised 1965)
    .................................13th Battalion (former 18 Rajput, raised 1941)
    .................................14th Battalion (former 16 JAK Rifles, raised 1976)
    .................................15th Battalion
    .................................16th Battalion
    .................................17th Battalion (Recon & Support Regiment)
    .................................18th Battalion
    .................................19th Battalion (Recon & Support Regiment)
    .................................20th Battalion
    .................................21st Battalion
    .................................22nd Battalion
    .................................23rd Battalion (Recon & Support Regiment)
    .................................24th Battalion (former 20th Rajput, raised ?)
    .................................25th Battalion
  • Comments: It is the youngest regiment of the Indian Army and is unique blend of military heritage originating since 1776 and the latest state of the art equipment profile. After the 1965 Indo-Pak war, a need was felt to provide matching mobility to infantry units operating with armoured formations. In 1969 some of the oldest battalions from various infantry regiments were equipped with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), TOPAZ, SKOT and BTR-60. These battalions remained affiliated with their erstwhile Infantry Regiments and Regimental Centres. In 1977-78 Mechanised Infantry units were equipped with BMP-1 ICVs. To fulfill the requirement of the common battle and training philosophy of mechanised warfare, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment was raised on 02 April 1979 and the affairs of the Regiment were transferred from Directorate General of Infantry to Directorate General Mechanised Forces. The Regiment was raised and nurtured under the watchful eyes of its first Colonel of the Regiment, General Krishnaswamy Sundarji, PVSM, ADC. New battalions were raised by pooling in manpower from old battalions.

The President conferred Colours to the Regiment on 24 February 1988 at the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC), Ahmednagar, in a unique parade where 14 Colours were laid down and 24 Colours presented. With the exception of the 23rd and 24th Mech. Inf., all battalions from the 15th onwards have been raised after the birth of the regiment on 01 April 1979. The former 20th Rajput (now 24th Mech. Inf.) traces its origins up to 1212 AD, when they were part of the army of the Maharajah of Jodhpur. They are considered the oldest Battalion of the Indian Army. Prior to being called the 20th Rajput, the battalion was known as the Jodhpur Sirdar Infantry. The 20th Rajput converted to the 24th Mech. Inf. in 1993. The Regiment has actively participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and Operation Vijay in Jammu & Kashmir. The Regiment has the unique distinction of operating in the high altitude areas of Ladakh and Sikkim. It also specialises in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Somalia, Angola and Sierra Leone. The Regiment is affiliated to INS Gharial, of the Indian Navy.

Wheeled to Shine - Sainik Samachar