President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the Diamond Jubilee Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremonial event held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking 75 years since the elite regiment was designated as the PBG in 1950.
The ceremony also saw the participation of ‘Viraat’, the Commandant’s Charger, who retired in 2022. Viraat was adopted by the regiment after retirement, symbolising the unique bond between PBG personnel and their horses. The horse had earlier drawn national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi patted him during the Republic Day Parade on January 26, 2022.
President Murmu lauded the PBG for its professional excellence, discipline, and unwavering adherence to the finest military traditions. She noted that the honour of receiving the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner comes with a “significant responsibility” and expressed confidence that the regiment would continue to uphold its glorious legacy.
The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment of the Indian Army, tracing its origins back to 1773 when it was raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard, later known as the Viceroy’s Bodyguard. Following India’s transition to a republic, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard on January 27, 1950.
The tradition of presenting the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the PBG began with Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, who bestowed the honour on May 14, 1957.
Uniquely, the PBG remains the only regiment in the Indian Army permitted to carry two ‘Standards’ – the President’s Standard of Body Guard and the Regimental Standard of The PBG.