Mechanised Infantry Regiment

The Mechanised Infantry is the youngest regiment of the Indian Army and is a unique blend of military heritage originating since 1776 and the latest state of the art equipment profile. After 1965 Indo-Pak war, a need was felt to provide matching mobility to infantry units operating with armoured formations. In 1969 some of the oldest battalions from various infantry regiments were equipped with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), TOPAZ, SKOT and BTR-60. These battalions remained affiliated with their erstwhile Infantry Regiments and Regimental Centres.

In 1977-78 Mechanised Infantry units were equipped with BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs). To fulfill the requirement of the common battle and training philosophy of mechanised warfare, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment was raised on 02 April 1979 and the affairs of the regiment were transferred from Directorate General of Infantry to Directorate General Mechanised Forces. The regiment was raised and nurtured under the watchful eyes of its first Colonel of the Regiment, General K Sundarji, PVSM, ADC. New Battalions were raised by pooling in manpower from old battalions. The regimental crest is a rifle bayonet mounted on the BMP- 1, depicting the infantry and mechanised facets of the regiment. The President conferred Colours to the regiment on 24 February 1988 at Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC), Ahmednagar, in a unique parade where 14 Colours were laid down and 24 Colours presented.

The regiment has actively participated in 'Operation Pawan' in Srilanka, 'Operation Rakshak' in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and 'Operation Vijay' in Jammu & Kashmir. The regiment has the unique distinction of operating in the High Altitude Areas of Ladakh and Sikkim. It also specialises in amphibious, heliborne and airborne Operations. The regiment has successfully participated in UN Peace Keeping Operations in Somalia, Angola and Sierra Leone. The regiment is affiliated to the Indian Naval Ship GHARIAL.

The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC) is located in Ahmednagar. Be it the flag captured by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces in Sri Lanka in the eighties or ex-army chief Gen K Sundarji's uniform, they all speak of the valor of the armed forces and the Mechanised Infantry Regiment. The regiment has a glorious history of heroes who have done the forces proud. There is a Victoria Cross recipient, three Param Vir Chakra winners and 12 Mahavir Chakra decorations. Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari was conferred the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for combating the enemy.

On 01 October 1998 the first battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment celebrated the golden jubilee of its Battle Honor ``Tithwal'' somewhere in the Western Sector, today. The battle, according to a press note, was fought in the summer of 1948 against the Pakistani forces in Jammu and Kashmir. While 21 soldiers laid down their lives, 96 were injured. The gallantary displayed by the ``Heroes of Tithwal'' was rewarded by one Mahavir Chakra, seven Vir Chakras, two Sena Medals, besides other awards. The Batallion's performance was also appreciated by Jawaharlal Nehru and the then J&K CM Sheikh Abdullah.