President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presents the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG)


Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner: President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Key Points:

  • In the one-and-a-half-hour-long ceremony, the President’s Bodyguard accepted the President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet banner.
  • The presentation parade was then followed by an audio-visual presentation highlighting the history and significance of the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.

History of President’s Bodyguard:

  • The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard (later the Viceroy’s Bodyguard) in 1773.
  • The PBG, which represents the President of India's own troops, holds the exclusive honour of being the only Indian Army military unit to be permitted to carry the President's silver trumpet and trumpet banner.
  • In 1923, this distinction was conferred on the President’s Bodyguard by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service.
  • Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.
  • On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard.
  • Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment.
  • The President's monogram is displayed on the Banner rather than a coat of arms, as was customary during the colonial era.
  • Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.
  • The modern-day President's Bodyguard was developed in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then-Gov.-Gen. Warren Hastings.
  • Its initial strength was 50 cavalry troopers, which was later increased by a further 50 horsemen.
  • The President's Bodyguard of today consists of a small group of hand-picked individuals with distinctive physical characteristics.
  • They are selected via a rigorous and physically grueling process.


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