Brigade of the Guards Brigade of The Guards is a regiment of the Indian Army . It is the first " All India " mixed " All Class " Composition Infantry Regiment of the Army where troops from all parts of India serve together in various battalions of the Regiment . The Guards Brigade was raised to implement the Government ' s policy of encouraging Army recruitment from classes and regions which had been under - represented in the forces . In the new regiment , called The Guards Brigade , the old system of class composition was replaced with recruitment open to all regions , castes , creeds , and sections of society . Three of the Army ' s oldest and most distinguished battalions — 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Punjab Regiment , 1st Battalion of the Indian Grenadiers Regiment and 1st Battalion of the 6th Rajputana Rifles were converted as Guards battalions in 1949 . Later , they were joined by the 1st Battalion of the 7th Rajput Regiment . It is the only regiment of Foot Guards in the Indian Army . Though the Brigade of The Guards is only 50 years old , its constituent battalions go back as far as 225 years and between them share 93 Battle Honours earned around the globe . The President of India is the Honorary Colonel - in - Chief and the Chief of Army Staff is the Colonel - in - Chief of The Guards . The Guards Regimental Centre is at Kamptee in Maharashtra . History and raising . Prior to the raising of the Guards , Indian Army infantry regiments derived their name from region , religion or sub = caste . Also there was a message with its formation that country comes ahead of everything else including religion and caste . The Regiment was formed in 1949 as the first mixed class Indian regiment by Field Marshal KM Cariappa OBE to be raised after independence of India . The first battalions of the Brigade of Guards were formed by taking the oldest battalions of some of the infantry regiments of the Indian Army . At the moment Brigade of the Guards consists of 19 battalions , the youngest being the 19th battalion . In the eighties , the Indian Army began to increase the number of mechanized infantry battalions on its order of battle . As part of this program , the battalions of the Brigade of Guards were eventually mechanized infantry . Operations . 1971 Liberation War . In the 1971 war , the Brigade of the Guards participated in actions on both the Eastern and the Western fronts . The 14th Guards earned their first PVC ( Param Veer Chakra ) through L / Nk Albert Ekka of Bravo Company , for heroism in the Gangasagar theatre : he single - handedly turned the tide against Pakistani defenders , who were firing from LMG and MMG from the top of a building , putting the entire attacking party in risk . Operation Blue Star . The 10th Battalion under Lt . Col . Ishrar Rahim Khan was located in Jullundhar in 1984 and moved to Amritsar to assist the civil administration when Sikh militants were discovered holed up inside the Golden Temple . Along with 1 Para Commando , 10 Guards moved in from the North Entrance to the temple and , though suffering heavy casualties , achieved their objectives . The unit was awarded one Ashok Chakra ( Capt JS Rana ) , one Kirti Chakra and three Shaurya Chakras . Total casualties suffered by the unit was 19 killed and 50 wounded . UN operations and counter - insurgency operations . The Brigade of the Guards has also taken part in UN peace keeping operations in Gaza and Angola . The regiment has also been used in counter - insurgency operations in India . Current strength . The regiment currently consists of a total of 21 battalions . The majority of these operate as mechanised infantry , with four operating in the reconnaissance and support role , in support of the border force , one is equipped as an anti - tank guided missile ( ATGM ) battalion and three ( including two territorial army ) proudly remain as infantry . Today , the regiment is one of three in the Indian Army that is made up of men from the different castes and regions of India . Gallantry Awards . 1 Param Vir Chakra , 2 Ashoka Chakra s , 1 Padma Bhushan , 8 Param Vishisht Seva Medals , 6 Maha Vir Chakra s , 4 Kirti Chakra s , 46 Vir Chakra s , 18 Shaurya Chakra s , 77 Sena Medal s , 10 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals , 3 Yudh Seva Medals , 16 Vishisht Seva Medals , 45 Mention - in - Despatches , 151 COAS ' s Commendation Cards and 79 GOC - in - C ' s Commendation Cards Battle honours . Pre - Independence . Delhi 1803 ; Egypt 1876 - 1917 ; British East Africa 1878 ; Afghanistan 1878 - 80 ; Kandahar 1880 ; Burma 1891 ; China 1900 ; East Africa 1914 - 1916 ; Mesopotamia 1914 - 1918 , Egypt 1915 , Gallipoli 1915 , France and Flanders 1915 , Kutal Amarah 1915 ; Palestine 1916 - 1918 ; Tigris 1916 ; Macedonia 1918 ; Afghanistan 1919 ; Donbaik 1943 ; Italy 1943 - 1945 ; Burma 1945 ; J & . K 1947 - 1948 ; Selinghar ; Carnatic ; Mysore ; Ava ; Pegu ; Suez Canal ; Nels , Krithia ; Laos ; Aden ; Point - 551 ; Kanghaw ; Naushera ; Mangalore ; Hyderabad ; Gaza ; Megiodo ; Nablus ; Curais ; Seringapatnam ; Beurabone ; Punjab ; Mooltan ; Persia ; Reshire ; Khooshab ; Central India ; Basra ; Shaiba ; Ctesiphon ; Defence of Kut - Al - Amara ; Sidi Barrani ; Keren ; Cassino ; Castele Hill ; Leswarree ; Deig ; Bharatpore ; Khelat ; Mahrakpore ; Chilianwallah ; Goojerat and Punjab . Post - Independence . Akhaura , Burki , Gadra Road , Hilli , Naushera , Gurais , Shingo Rivel Valley , Sylhet and Ganga Sagar .