New Delhi, October 1: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the Diamond Jubilee Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) during a ceremonial event at Rashtrapati Bhavan, commemorating 75 years since the regiment was formally designated the PBG in 1950.
The event saw the participation of ‘Viraat’, the Commandant’s Charger who retired in 2022. Adopted by the regiment after retirement, Viraat symbolises the enduring bond between PBG personnel and their horses. The horse gained national attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi patted him during the Republic Day Parade on 26 January 2022.
President Murmu lauded the PBG for its professional excellence, discipline, and unwavering adherence to the finest military traditions. She emphasised that receiving the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner carries a “significant responsibility”, and expressed confidence that the regiment would continue to uphold its distinguished legacy.
The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment of the Indian Army, tracing its origins to 1773 as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard, later renamed the Viceroy’s Bodyguard. After India became a republic, it was redesignated the President’s Bodyguard on 27 January 1950.
The tradition of presenting the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner began with Dr Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President, who bestowed the honour on 14 May 1957. The PBG remains unique in the Indian Army as the only regiment permitted to carry two ‘Standards’ – the President’s Standard of Body Guard and the Regimental Standard of the PBG.
