Historical Legacy: President's Bodyguards recruit only from Jats, Jat Sikhs and Rajputs

NEW DELHI: The President's Bodyguard (PBG), based in Rashtrapati Bhavan for ceremonial duties of the supreme commander of the armed forces, draws its soldiers only from Jats, Rajputs and Jat Sikhs as part of the "historical legacy and tradition" that imbues the regimental system of the over 13-lakh strong Indian Army, say senior officers.

This comes in the backdrop of the Delhi high court asking the government and the Army for their replies to a petition alleging discrimination because only the three castes were considered for recruitment to the President's Bodyguard.

"It's a needless controversy over the PBG, which has traditionally followed the class composition of Jats, Rajputs and Jat Sikhs since well before Independence. The PBG, which has just 160-180 soldiers, and 61 Cavalry at Jaipur are the only horse-mounted units in the Army. Moreover, it's the Delhi Police, not the PBG, that is responsible for providing security to the President," said an officer.

The Army has three basic types of regiments. "Single-class" or "pure" regiments like the Sikh, Gorkha, Dogra, Garhwal, Jat and the like, which were raised during the British Raj based on the classification of certain communities as "martial races" and other factors.

While continuing with such regiments because of regimental history and ethos, combat effectiveness and operational performance, the aim after Independence has been to raise "All India-All Class" regiments - like the Brigade of Guards - where jawans are recruited from all over the country irrespective of class and percentage.

In between these two, there are some "mixed" or "fixed'' class units like the Grenadiers or the Mahar Regiment. "The policy after Independence is not to raise any new regiment based on class, creed, caste, community, religion or region but to have a force in which all Indians have representation. Recruitment is based on merit and domicile," said an officer.

The Army over the years has strongly rejected calls for raising any more "single-class'' units like the Gujarat, Kalinga, Dalit, Ahir, Paswan or Tribal Regiments as well as attempts to tamper with its "time-tested" regimental system despite political and other demands, as reported earlier by TOI.