Infantry Regiment in the Indian Army

Infantry typically comprises light infantry, mountain infantry, motorised infantry, marine infantry, mechanised infantry, and airborne infantry. It is not a field formation; it is a military organisation. An infantry regiment’s battalions are not deployed in a single formation during combat; they are spread among brigades, divisions, and corps. The least impressive of all the arms, but without which you can do absolutely nothing. According to these words, the infantry has always been the main fighting force. 

What is an Infantry?

History demonstrates that the Infantry ultimately determines the outcome of any war. The infantryman is the one who drives the adversary out of his bunker and compels him to concede defeat or who courageously repels enemy attacks until the “last man and the last round.” The Indian Army relies heavily on its infantry, as do other militaries around the globe. In times of war and peace, the rest of the Army is organised with the Infantry at its centre. Infantry continues to be the National Security’s second-to-last line of defence.

Low-intensity conflict operations have been ongoing and may be the Army’s longest-running operations. Historically, insurgencies in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and the North-East have served as real-world instances of infantry-centric operations, which are notoriously difficult, delicate, and sensitive. The infantrymen have consistently done a good job.

Additionally, by participating in numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world, our Infantry has gained a lot of respect and carved out a niche for itself and the country.

The Mechanised Infantry

The Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment with 27 battalions scattered around the country in various armoured formations. They are a member of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which together with the Armoured Corps makes up the Mechanised Forces, along with the 21 battalions of the Brigade of the Guards.

The Mechanised Infantry is the newest regiment in the Indian Army and combines cutting-edge technology with military tradition that dates back to 1776. BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicles were fitted with Mechanised Infantry formations in 1977–1978. (ICVs). The Mechanised Infantry Regiment was established on April 2, 1979, and the affairs of the regiment were transferred from the Directorate General of Infantry to the Directorate General Mechanised Forces to meet the requirements of the common battle and training philosophy of mechanised warfare. 

The BMP-1 with a rifle bayonet affixed serves as the regiment’s crest, representing both its mechanised and infantry components. On February 24, 1988, at the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Center (MIRC), Ahmednagar, in a special parade that saw 14 Colours laid down and 24 Colours given, the President bestowed Colours onto the regiment.

The regiment actively participated in Operation Pawan, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Vijay in Sri Lanka. The regiment’s operation in Sikkim and Ladakh’s high-altitude regions sets it apart from other regiments.

Additionally, it specialises in airborne, heliborne, and amphibious missions. The regiment has successfully taken part in UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Sierra Leone, Angola, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Indian Naval Ship is connected to the regiment.

List of Infantry Regiment in Indian Army

Regiment vs Battalion

A Regiment is a structure of military forces that may include Battalions, which are smaller fighting units. The Brigade of the Guards, Rajputana Rifles, Gorkha Rifles, Punjab Regiment, etc., are just a few of the regiments that make up the Indian Army’s infantry.

Other regiments with multiple battalions as members include the Armoured Corps, the Regiment of Artillery, and others (see list above).

The units of a regiment are battalions. For instance, the Brigade of the Guards, in the case of Infantry Regiments, consists of battalions that are referred to by numbers, such as 16 Guards or 6 Guards. The battalion is identified by its number, and its name reflects the regiment to which it belongs.

Conclusion 

The infantry soldier is unfazed by all obstacles and remains vigilant 24 hours a day to serve as our first line of defence along the borders of our country, whether it be the icy glacier of Siachen, the dense jungles of the Northeast, the rugged terrain and lofty peaks of the Himalayas, or even the simmering hot desert of the Thar.