PRESIDENT’S BODY GUARDS

“The Oldest Surviving Mounted Unit”

 

The President's Bodyguard (PBG) is an elite household cavalry regiment of the  Indian Army. It is senior-most in the order of precedence of the units of the Indian Army. The only regiment in the Indian Army that is fully trained as horsemen, paratroopers, tank-men, and in ceremonial duties. The primary role of the President's Bodyguard is to escort and protect the President of India which is why the regiment is based in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India. It is equipped as a mounted unit, with horses for ceremonies at the presidential palace and BTR-80 vehicles for use in combat. The personnel of the regiment are also trained as paratroopers and nominally are expected to lead in airborne assaults in the role of pathfinders. The regiment is the successor of the Governor General's Bodyguard of the British Raj.

 

Roles of PBG

  • Firstly the security of the President of the country is a stand alone active combat unit.
  • They are assigned to an active platoon serving in the forward bases including Siachen and Kargil.
  • The guards come from different regiments like Sikh, Jat and Rajput regiments and are handpicked by the central command.
  • In peace time they are also deployed as a support group to the UN Peacekeeping operations.
  • They take over the ceremonial duties as and when required as per the protocol.

 

PBG Eligibility Criteria

Sol General Duty-

Minimum age should be 17 ½ years and maximum age is 21 years on the date of rally.

10th pass with 45% marks in aggregate. Married status should be unmarried.

Clerk /SKT-

Minimum age should be 17 ½ years and maximum age is 23 years on the date of rally.

12th pass with 50% marks in each subjects. Married status should be unmarried.

Tradesman-

Minimum age should be 17 ½ years and maximum age is 23 years on the date of rally.

8th pass  or 10th pass with ITI in relevant trades. Married status should be unmarried.

Nursing Assistant-

Minimum age should be 17 ½ years and maximum age is 23 years on the date of rally.

12th pass with 50% marks in each subjects. Married status should be unmarried.

Technical-

Minimum age should be 17 ½ years and maximum age is 23 years on the date of rally.

12th pass with 50% marks in each subjects. Married status should be unmarried.

 

The unit’s role isn’t that visible to us, but it is  well beyond  the way it appears to be.