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- Brief History
- Titles & Designation of the Corps.
- The President's Silver Trumpet & Trumpet Banner
- Standards, Guidons, Colours & Banners
- The Badge and Credo
- The Bodyguard Troops
- Mounts of The PBG
 The President's Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in 1773 at Benares, by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings, with a strength of 50 picked troopers and horses. This nucleus of the Bodyguard was later augmented by another 50, provided by Raja Chet Singh of Benares, bringing the overall strength of the Bodyguard upto 100 horses and men by the end of that year.
The establishment of the Regiment varied through the years, being augmented in times of war and it attained its maximum strength of 1929 all ranks, in the Army List of 1845, just prior to the First Sikh War. The PBG continued to be select Cavalry unit, primarily for the personal and battlefield security of the Governor-General.
After Independence, in keeping with its high traditions, the PBG rendered yeoman service in 1947 and around the Capital in the upheaval during the aftermath of partition. The Regiment saw action in 1965, when it participated in "Operation ABLAZE" in the Western theatre. In 1988 and 1989, detachments of the Unit served with the Indian forces in Sri Lanka. The PBG has also served on the world's highest battlefield in Siachen, where it continues to do so till today, and with the Indian contingents forming part of the United Nations Force in Somalia Sierra Leone and Angola.
The PBG today is a small body of men comprising of four officers,14 JCOs and 161 Bodyguards-men backed up by administrative support personnel, an establishment which has not changed much in the last century. Equipped with armoured cars, its men are trained for operational duties, both as tankmen and airborne troops in addition to their ceremonial role.
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Since its raising in 1773, the Corps had various titles and came to be known as "the Governor General's Bodyguard" in 1784. In the 1858, the Corps was designated The Viceroy's Bodyguard, but continued to be referred to as the GGBG. In 1944 it was briefly known as "44th Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron (GGBG)".
In 1947, it was formally redesignated with its old title, the Governor General's Bodyguard and on 26th January 1950, with India's declaration as a Republic, it became -the President's Bodyguard.
The PBG has the unique distinction being, the only military unit in the Indian Army, privileged to carry the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.
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The PBG like most mounted units also carries a Regimental Standard. The Regimental Standard, whenever uncased and carried on Parade, is always accorded a mounted armed escort and is saluted by the Regiment when it first comes 'On Parade' to occupy the pride of place at the head of the mounted Corps. Symbolizing the honour and pride of the Regiment, this is always paid compliments by all troops under arms, personnel in uniform and spectators who stand as mark of respect, as the Regimental Standard and its Escort, pass by.
The Badge of the PBG comprises the State symbol borne aloft on an open parachute supported by crossed lances. These are held together by its title. The Crest thus, symbolizes the PBG's Cavalry and airborne role. As befitting its status, the motto of the PBG is "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" or, "Victory to Mother India". Colours of the Regiment are sky blue and maroon the same as those for airborne troops.
Recruitment was initially almost exclusively from among Mohammedans of the area of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Towards the last decade of the eighteenth century, Brahmins from Bengal began to replace the earlier "mughuls". Recruitment to the Regiment in India now is in equal share, to Sikhs, Jats and Rajputs, with officers and Administrative Staff from all over India.
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Horses of the PBG are bay in colour, except that for the Regimental Trumpeter, who traditionally is always mounted on a Grey Charger, and the Colour Party. They are required to be of a minimum height of 157.5cms, measured at the shoulder, and are the only horses in the Indian Army, permitted to wear full manes, like their counterparts of the Household Cavalry in Britain.
The 'Mechanical Mounts" of the PBG have been at various times Daimler and Humber Armoured Cars, equipped with 2 pounder and 37 mm cannon and machine guns respectively, the indigenous Nissan Scout Car and the BTR 60 armoured vehicles.
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