Maratha Light Infantry

The Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It traces its lineage to the Bombay Sepoys, raised in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment in the Indian Army.

Recruitment

The class composition of the regiment was and is primarily formed by Maratha recruits from the former Maratha Empire. The men were mostly drawn from all over the state of Maharashtra, with some percentage from Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka including Coorg. As of 2000, the recruitment pattern is as follows–

Marathas – 86%
Mysurians – 4.16%
Muslims of South India – 4.16%
All classes from Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, without any fixed percentage – 5.55%.

Tradesmen are recruited from all Indian classes.

History

Pre-independence

The Maratha Confederacy was a potent force in India from the 17th to 19th centuries. Their military qualities were brilliantly optimised in their historical campaigns against the Mughal Empire under the leadership of the Chhatrapati Shivaji and succeeding Maratha rulers. Maratha armies, comprising both infantry and light cavalry, and the Maratha Navy had dominated the military scene in India for three centuries. The 1st battalion of the regiment, known as Jangi Paltan, was raised in August 1768 as the 2nd Battalion, [Bombay Sepoys], to protect the British East India Company's possessions on the islands of Bombay.
The second battalion known as Kali Panchwin followed the next year as the 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys. These two battalions were at the forefront of virtually every major engagement fought on the west coast from Surat to Cannanore during the last quarter of the 18th century. Prominent amongst these were the historic battles of Seedaseer and Seringapatam, where in the words of Richard Wellesley their conduct and success were seldom equalled and never surpassed.
The turn of the 19th century was witness to the expansion of the regimental group with the raising of the 3rd battalion as the 2nd battalion, 5th Regiment of the Bombay Native Infantry in 1797. The Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre was raised in March 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry; the 4th battalion in April 1800 as the 2nd battalion, 8th Regiment Bombay Infantry and the 5th battalion from the Bombay Fencibles as the 1st battalion, 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in December 1800.
In the second half of the 19th century, the battalions fought in various campaigns from the Middle East to China. In recognition of the gallant conduct of its detachments at the siege of Kahun and the defence of Dadar, in Baluch territory during the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1841, the Kali Panchwin was created Light Infantry. Later, this honour was also bestowed on the 3rd and 10th Regiments of the Bombay Infantry for their gallantry in Sir Robert Napier's Abyssinian Campaign of 1867–1868. The regiment assumed the title 5th Mahratta Light Infantry 1922.
Three Maratha battalions distinguished themselves during the First World War in the long drawn-out Mesopotamia campaign. The 117th Mahrattas was made into a Royal battalion for its conspicuously distinctive service during its campaign in Mesopotamia, particularly in the events leading to enemy capitulation after the bitter 146-day siege at Kut-el-Amara. The battalion was mostly composed of Marathas from the Khandesh region and Nashik district. For some unclear reasons even after winning, the regiment did not return to India. The 114th Mahrattas was awarded 28 gallantry awards for their performance in the battle of Sharquat, the highest earned by any unit in a single action. The other Maratha battalions, namely the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry and 116th Mahrattas also acquitted themselves in Palestine and Mesopotamia. The 105th lost its commanding officer in action.
The Second World War saw the Marathas at the forefront in almost every theatre of operations from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the deserts of North Africa, and the mountains and rivers of Italy. The war also saw the expansion of the regiment when thirteen new war service battalions were raised. Most of these were later demobilised after the war, whilst two were converted into artillery regiments. During the war Naik Yeshwant Ghadge and Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav were decorated with the Victoria Cross in the Italian campaign, while 130 other decorations were awarded to the regiment.
The following battalions saw action during the war –

East Africa – 2/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry
Italy – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 5/5th Mahratta Light Infantry,
Iraq and Persia – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 5/5th Mahratta Light Infantry
North Africa – 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry
Burma – 4/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 6/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 17/5th Mahratta Light Infantry,
Java – 4/5th Mahratta Light Infantry, 6/5th Mahratta Light Infantry,

Post-independence

saw the regiment reverted to the original five battalions, with the 3rd Maratha Light Infantry converting to the airborne role and becoming the 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment in April 1952. With the integration of the erstwhile princely states, the 19th, 20th, 22nd battalions were amalgamated, from the state forces of Satara, Kolhapur, Baroda, and Hyderabad, with the regiment. The expansion of the Indian Army to meet the omnipresent threat to its borders has seen the regiment grow to its present strength of 18 regular battalions and two Territorial Army battalions whilst the period also saw the conversion of the 21st battalion into the 21st battalion, Parachute Regiment and the 115 Infantry Battalion being transferred to the Mahar Regiment.
Since independence, battalions of the Maratha Light Infantry have taken part in every Indian armed conflict — the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Annexation of Junagadh, the Annexation of Hyderabad, the Annexation of Goa, the Sino-Indian War, the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971, against the Chinese on the Sikkim watershed in 1956, Operation Pawan, the ongoing operations on the Siachen Glacier and in numerous counter insurgency operations.

Units

The Maratha Light Infantry consists of the following battalions -

Battalion	Raising Date	Remarks	References
1st Battalion	1768	Nicknamed the Jangi Paltan. Raised as 2nd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in 1768. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1796, 3rd Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 3rd Regiment of Bombay Infantry – 1871, 3rd Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903 and 1st Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Present designation in 1945. Battle honours – Mysore, Seedaseer, Seringapatam, Beni Boo Ali, Punjab, Mooltan, Goojerat, Abyssinia, Jamalpur.
2nd Battalion	1768	Nicknamed the Kali Panchwin and the Ashok Chakra Paltan. Raised as 3rd Battalion, Bombay Sepoys in 1768. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 3rd Bombay Native Infantry in 1796, 5th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 5th Bombay Native Infantry in 1841, 5th Bombay Infantry in 1885, 5th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903 and 2nd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Battle honours – Mysore, Seedaser, Seringapatnam, Beni-Boo-Ali, Siege of Kahun, China, Afghanistan, Burma, Mesopotamia, Kut El Amara, Baghdad, Palestine, Nablus, Sharon, Abyssinia, Keren, North Africa, Siege of Tobruk, Gubi and Hussainiwala.
4th Battalion	1800	Raised as the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Re-designated 16th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 16th Bombay Infantry in 1885, 116th Mahrattas in 1903. Battle honours – Afghanistan 1879–80, British East Africa 1901, N.W. Frontier, India 1914–15 '17, Mesopotamia 1914–18, Tengnoupal, Shangshak.
5th Battalion	1800	Raised as Bombay Fencible Regiment in 1800. Re-designated 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry in 1803, 17th Bombay Native Infantry in 1824, 17th Bombay Infantry in 1885, 117th Mahrattas in 1903 and 5th Royal Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922. Was designated Royal in recognition of its exemplary service in Mesopotamia in World War I, a rare honour for a single battalion. Battle honours – Shaiba, Battle Honour Suadih and Theatre Honour East Pakistan during 1971 war.
6th Battalion	1962	Raised at Mardan in 1940 by Lieutenant Colonel E Ross Magnetty, earned the battle honour Tengnoupal. Disbanded in 1947. Re-raised in 1962 by Lieutenant Colonel VK Menon at Belgaum.
7th Battalion	1963	Re-raised under Lieutenant Colonel ML Dixit at Belgaum.
8th Battalion	1963	Raised 1941 by Lieutenant Colonel LMC Bellamy in Belgaum. Converted to 4th Mahratta Anti-Tank Regiment in 1942. Re-raised in Belgaum in 1963.
9th Battalion	1964	Nicknamed the Ashok Chakra Paltan after the award to Colonel Vasanth Venugopal.
11th Battalion		Nicknamed Aakramak Akraa
12th Battalion	1982
14th Battalion	1971	Initially raised as the 14th/5th Mahratta Light Infantry on 1 February 1941, at Ambala by Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Storey-Cooper, disbanded in 1945 following the end of the Second World War. Re-raised in 1971 at Belgaum by Lieutenant Colonel RK Dutt.
15th Battalion	1966	Raised by Lieutenant Colonel GS Dubhashi at Babina. Won the battle honour Burj and the theatre honour Punjab during the 1971 war. Called the Mahavir Chakra and Ashok Chakra Paltan following the awards to Sepoy Pandurang Salunkhe and Lieutenant Navdeep Singh.
16th Battalion	1966	Nicknamed Ashok Chakra Paltan after Colonel NJ Nair, who was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra in 1994
17th Battalion	1962	Raised by Lieutenant Colonel AO Kersey in 1941 at Belgaum. Battle honour Ru-Wya during the Burma campaign. Disbanded after World War II. Re-raised by Lieutenant Colonel E D'Souza in 1962 at Belgaum.
18th Battalion	1976	Raised by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ahmed Zaki
19th Battalion	1949	From Kolhapur State Forces. Raised as Kolhapur Fusiliers in 1845, redesignated as Kolhapur Infantry in 1846, renamed as Rajaram Rifles in 1941. After the merger of Kolhapur state with Union of India, became 19th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry.
22nd Battalion	1853	Nicknamed the Hyderabadis, raised by Raja Rameshwar Rao of Wanaparthy Samsthanam, later became 4th Regiment of Hyderabad City troops and subsequently named Raja Paltan. Merged under 2nd Hyderabad State Infantry in 1948, joined the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment as 22 Maratha Light Infantry in 1953.
23rd Battalion		Nicknamed Teevra Teivees
24th Battalion
25th Battalion
26th Battalion	1988	Raised in 1942 by Lieutenant Colonel HS Pearson at Belgaum. Demobilised in 1946 after the war. Re-raised in 1988 by Lieutenant Colonel AB Sayyad.
Territorial Army Battalions
101 Infantry Battalion	1918	Raised at Karwar as 2/103 Maharatta Light Infantry. Has undergone several transformations before being finally re-raised and re-designated as 101 Infantry Battalion Maratha Light Infantry in 1949 by Lieutenant Colonel B Dubal. Located at Pune.
109 Infantry Battalion		Located at Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Former units
2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment	1797	Raised as 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. Re-designated 10th Bombay Native Infantry in 1818, 10th Bombay Native Infantry in 1871, 10th Regiment of Bombay Infantry in 1885, 10th Bombay Light Infantry in 1901, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1903, 3/5th Mahratta Light Infantry in 1922 and finally 3rd Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry
10th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment	1949	Formerly 20th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. Raised from 1st and 2nd Battalion of Baroda State Infantry. Absorbed into Indian Army and 20th and 21st Battalion of Maratha Light Infantry; later they were amalgamated to form 20th Battalion. It was re-designated 10th Battalion. Battle honour Bejai.
21st Battalion, Parachute Regiment	1985	Raised as 21st Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. Converted to Parachute Regiment in 1996. Nicknamed Waghnakhs.
Rashtriya Rifles
17 Rashtriya Rifles	1994	Raised by Colonel RS Nagal, operational in Banihal sector
27 Rashtriya Rifles	1994	Raised by Colonel B Ahobkirk at Belgaum, serving in areas south of the Pir Panjal Range
41 Rashtriya Rifles		Raised by Colonel SV Chaudhari at Belgaum, deployed in North Kashmir
56 Rashtriya Rifles	2000	Raised by Colonel PK Singh at Belgaum, stationed in North Kashmir

Affiliated units

The following units are affiliated to the regiment –

2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)
21st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces)
10th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment
34 Field Regiment, Regiment of Artillery
36 Medium Regiment (Self Propelled), Regiment of Artillery
INS Mumbai, Indian Navy
No. 20 Squadron, Indian Air Force
Indian Coast Guard Air Station, Daman and Diu

Regimental Centre

The regimental centre has been in Belgaum, Karnataka, since 1922, which was part of the Bombay Presidency at that time. The centre's history comes from the conversion of the 114th Mahrattas to the 10th Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry. This unit itself traces its origins to 1800 when it was raised as the 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry.

Battle slogan

The battle cry of Maratha Light Infantry is बोला श्री छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराज की जय. It replaced the battle cry – Har Har Mahadev during the Second World War.

Marching style

The soldiers of Maratha Light Infantry have a quick march speed of 140 steps in a minute, while a standard pace for a quick march is 120 beats per minute with a 30-inch step. The regiment has won the best marching contingent twice at the Republic Day parade. On the occasion of the 221st Bastille day celebrations, a unit from the Maratha Light Infantry led the parade on the Parisian boulevard of Champs-Élysées on 14 July 2009, when the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the guest of honour of the ceremony.

Regimental insignia

The regimental insignia consists of a bugle and cords with a pair of crossed swords and a shield, mounted by the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The bugle represents the light infantry mode of combat by skirmishers, controlled by orders issued on the bugles.

Uniform

The uniform consists of a green beret, which has the regimental crest and a red and green hackle. The two-coloured hackle has a history. During 1788, the Bombay Army was reorganised into the 1st and 2nd Brigades. Red plumes adorned the headgear of the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Brigade. The Marathas and the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry fought alongside each other in the Mesopotamia war as part of the same brigade. The British Army Light Infantry regiments wore green hackles during this time. As a symbol of this association, the green portion was added to the red, thus forming the present red and green hackle. The working dress does not have the hackle.
The Regiment initially had a unique lanyard around the neck with ends in both front pockets. This was changed to the standard lanyard in 2002. This green lanyard is worn on the left shoulder. The exception is the 5th Battalion of the regiment, which wears a blue lanyard on the right shoulder, as an honour for the title "Royal", for its outstanding operations in Mesopotamia in World War I.
The rank epaulettes consist of the words MARATHI LI in capitals. In ceremonial dress, the regimental crest is present in addition to the regimental title.

Regimental colours

Till the First World War, each unit had its own colours. In 1922, with the creation of the Maratha Group, the Red, Black, and Grey colours of the 114 Marathas were adopted as the regimental colours.

Battle honours

The regiment has 56 battle honours to its credit, 14 predating the World War I and spanning wars in Afghanistan, China, Burma and British East Africa. The list of battle honours is evidence to the long history and valour of the regiment. Some of these honours have been declared repugnant after the independence of the country.
Pre-independence

Post-independence

Naushera
Jhangar
Burki
Hussainiwala
Jamalpur
Burj
Suadih

Gallantry awards

Pre-independence

;Victoria Cross

Naik Yeshwant Ghadge
Sepoy Namdeo Jadav

;Companion of the Order of the Bath

Lieutenant Colonel Walter Henry Brown

;Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Colonel George Stanley Frazer

;Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Holroyd Bridges, 116th Mahrattas
Major Edward George Hall, 117th Mahrattas

;Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Edmund Hunter Wintle, 114th Mahrattas
Major Wilkinson Dent, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry

;Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Edmund Hunter Wintle, 114th Mahrattas
Captain Arthur Irons Sargon, 114th Mahrattas
Major Roger Cochrane Wilson, 114th Mahrattas
Major James Ainsworth Yates, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
Captain Wilkinson Dent, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
Captain Hubert Winthrop Young, 116th Mahrattas
Second Lieutenant Cyril Vincent Heron-Jones, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Military Cross

Captain William Burgess Benton. 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
Captain Kenneth Edward Cooper, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
Captain Charles Aubrey Pogson, 117th Mahrattas
Captain Arthur Wilfred White, 117th Mahrattas
Captain Douglas Kerr Joseph Chisholm, 114th, attd. 116th Mahrattas
Second Lieutenant Cyril Vincent Heron-Jones, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
Jemadar Dattairao Khanvilkar, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
Subedar Dhanjirao Khanvilkar, 114th Mahrattas
Jemadar Keshao Talekar, 114th Mahrattas
Subedar Sakhram Powar, 114th Mahrattas
Jemadar Sitaram Sellar, 117th Mahrattas

;Order of British India

Subedar Illiasdar Khan, Subedar Eshwant Rao Bhosle, Subedar Shaikh Abdul Kader, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
Subedar Major Shaikh Yasin, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
Subedar Major Mahadeorao Khanvilkar, Subedar Shaikh Ahmed, Subedar Vishnu Narvekar, 114th Mahrattas
Subedar Sakharam Rao Jagtap, Subedar Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar Vittal Chande, 117th Mahrattas

;Indian Order of Merit

Subedar Chimaji Garud, Naik Dyanu Bhosle, Private Gopal Rao Mahamunka, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
Lance Naik Haider Beg, Lance Naik Bhan Savant, Lance Naik Sakaram More, Sepoy Hari Sawant, Sepoy Laxuman Joth, Subedar Ramchandra Hase, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry
Subadar-Major Mahodeorao Khanvilkar, Subedar Ramchandar Bhosle, Company Havildar Major Manbarao Bhosle, Havildar Raghonath More, Havildar Shaijira Sinde, Naik Rahm Khan, 114th Mahrattas
Private Raja Ram Barge, Private Dianu Shinde, Subedar Murari Sinde, Subedar Vishram Rao Chowan, 116th Mahrattas
Havildar Jairam Dalvi, Havildar Vithu Kadam, Subedar-Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar Mahadeorao Nalaode, Jemadar Yenkatrao Kadam, 117th Mahrattas

;Indian Distinguished Service Medal

World War I – 19 medals, 8 medals, 9 medals, 15 medals, 7 medals, 18

;Indian Meritorious Service Medal

World War I – 12 medals, 46 medals, 9 medals, 5 medals, 4 medals, 7

;Croix De Guerre

Subedar and Honorary Lieutenant Bapurao Gaekwad, Subedar-Major Hyasdar Khan, 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
Subedar-Major Balwant Rao Sawant, Subedar-Major Mahadeorao Malande, 117th Mahrattas

;Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Holroyd Bridges

;Médaille militaire

Havildar Abajirao Kadam, 117th Mahrattas

;Bronze medal for military valour

Sepoy Shaikh Adam, 114th Mahrattas

;Order of Karageorge, 4th Class (with Swords)

Major Percy Macclesfield Heath
Captain Edward George Hall

;Officer of the Order of the Crown of Romania

Captain Richard Outram Chamier, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Order of El Nahda, 3rd Class

Captain Hubert Winthrop Young, 116th Mahrattas

;Companion of the Order of the Bath

Colonel Harry Ross, 1/103rd Mahratta Light Infantry & Commander, Rangoon Brigade Area, Southern Command, India.

;Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire

Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Ross, 1/103rd Mahratta Light Infantry

;Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Captain Douglas Stuart, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Captain Herbert Hanna, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Captain Frank Howard Cotterill, 1/5th Mahratta Light Infantry
Jemadar Raghunathrao Kadam, 110th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Ross, 1/103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Noel Ford, 2nd battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Military Cross

Lieutenant Edward Samuel Storey-Cooper, 114th Mahrattas
Lieutenant Thomas Robson Waller, 2nd battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Albert Medal

Captain George Hubert Bland, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry

;Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Brigadier DW Reid
Brigadier John Arthur Mellsop
Brigadier Ian Connail Anthos Lauder

;Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Colonel TH Boss
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur John Millard Wilton
Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Craine Goulden Bach

;Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Major Alfred Godfrey Hicks
Captain Dudley Owen Scolfield
Captain Ronald Ivor Webb

;Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant Colonel DW Reid
Lieutenant Colonel MP Lancaster
Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Connaill Athos Lauder
Major AE Cocksedge
Major Paul Garbutt Unfreville Hardy
Captain William Miller Mackay

;Military Cross

Major Nalinkumar Dhirrajlal Nanavati
Major Richard Radcliffe
Major Paul Henderson Chase
Major Noel James Millington Pettengell
Captain Raymond Denis Teall
Captain James Robert Charles Lawrence
Captain Niall Vincent Holland
Captain William Miller Mackay
Captain PMW Doyle
Captain John Alan d'lssa-Boomgardt
Captain AJ Oldham
Captain Harold Stanley Richmond
Lieutenant Padamsing Thapa
Lieutenant Ashley Fletcher Story Wilson
Lieutenant John Harford Powell
Subedar Nanasahib Surve
Subedar Shrirang Lawand
Subedar Ganpatrao Patil
Subedar Khandu Dalvi
Subedar Ramchander Shinde
Subedar Shripat Vishwasrao
Subedar Mohammad Umar
Subedar Dhakojirao Shinde
Jemadar Laxuman Desai
Jemadar Baburao Khanvilkar
Jemadar Jairam Mahadik
Jemadar Eknath Kaple
Jemadar Sitaram Maske
Jemadar Tukaram Parab

;Indian Order of Merit

Subedar Major Raojirao Shinde, Subedar Vishwamber Ghadge, Jemadar Sakaram Shinde, Havildar Maruti Chawan, Havildar Pandurang Kadam, Havildar Venkat Chawan, Naik Vishnu Mane, Naik Rajaram Sawant, Naik Dyanu Chawan, Sepoy Pandurang Powar, Babu Gaikwad, Lance-Naik Shivram Shinde, Sepoy Pandurang Tawde, Havildar Jaising Sawant, Naik Vithoba Jadhao, Jemadar Videy Prakash Misra, Sepoy Babaji Desai, Jemadar Sakharan Shinde

; Indian Distinguished Service Medal

Subedar Pandurang Chauhan, Naik Bala Kharade, Naik Sibaram Mhaske, Naik Baba Sahib Ingle, Sepoy Babu Desai, Sepoy Laku Jadhao, Havildar Bapu Jadhao, Havildar Baji Nalaode, Havildar Narayan Shirole, Havildar Narayan Naikwade, Havildar Ganpat Chawan, Havildar Yeshwant Jadhao, Havildar Maruti More, Naik Narayan Surwase, Lance-Naik Sidu Jadhao, Lance-Naik Maruti Shinde, Lance-Naik Dawlat Powar, Lance-Naik Vishnu Kohate, Sepoy Balu Powar, Sepoy Haibati Sawant, Sepoy Maruti Falke, Havildar Raj Aram Ghag, Lance-Havildar Ganesh Naik, Naik Balu Nikam, Lance-Naik Krishna Jagtap, Lance-Naik Newarti Nimbalkar, Company Havildar-Major Ganpat Bhosle, Naik Wastjdeo Sawant, Havildar Ganpat Kale, Lance-Naik Narayan Shinde, Sepoy Haibat Jadhao, Lance-Havildar Tukaram Jadhaol, Naik Krishna Shellar, Havildar Shankar Fartare, Havildar Daji Jadbao, Naik Laxuman Shinde

;Military Medal

Havildar Laxuman Sattam, Lance-Havildar Yeshwant Mane, Naik Ganpat Bhise, Naik Raghunath Salunke, Naik Yesu Jadhao, Lance-Havildar Dyanu Bhosle, Naik Ramchandra Ghadge, Lance-Naik Sitaram Jadhao, Naik Krishna Yururker, Lance-Naik Eshwara Kadam, Lance-Naik Krishna Mohite, Sepoy Jagu Autade, Sepoy Jaisingh More, Sepoy Kashiram Chawan, Sepoy Vishru Bhosle, Havildar Parshram Powar, Naik Jairam More, Naik Nathu Dhanaode, Naik Tukaram Chawan, Lance-Naik Keshao Surve, Sepoy Ramu Powar, Company Havildar-Major Baba Nikam, Naik Hari Kadam, Lance-Naik Krishna Sawant, Naik Parsuram Kadam, Naik Radhu Waman, Lance-Naik Chimaji More, Lance-Naik Govind Chawan, Lance-Naik Soma Mahajik, Sepoy Tukaram Nalawde, Naik Govind Dalvi, Naik Narayan Parab, Lance-Naik Dhanaji Khanvilikar, Sepoy Babu More, Sepoy Ramchandra Jadhao, Sepoy Shankar Sagwekar, Naik Dyanu Nale, Naik Tukaram Shedge, Sepoy Shripat Chaugule, Lance-Naik Pandurang Jadhao, Sepoy Nana More, Sepoy Shankar Borde, Sepoy Tatya Bhosle, Sepoy Genu Mate, Havildar Ganpatrao Tawde

Post-independence

;Ashok Chakra

Captain Eric James Tucker – 2nd Battalion
Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair – 16th Battalion
Colonel Vasanth Venugopal – 9th Battalion
Lieutenant Navdeep Singh – 15th Battalion

;Maha Vir Chakra

Lieutenant Colonel Harbans Singh Virk – 3rd Battalion
Major Annavi Krishnaswamy Ramaswamy – 3rd Battalion
Major Satyapal Chopra – 3rd Battalion
Sepoy Pandurang Salunkhe – 15th Battalion

;Kirti Chakra

Major Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair– 16th Battalion
Major Amit Oscar Fernandes – 7th Battalion
Captain Abhinav Handa – 9th Battalion
Second Lieutenant Rishi Ashok Malhotra – 8th Battalion
Company Havildar Major Jagtap Shivaji Balu – 6th Battalion
Havildar Rale Santosh Tanaji – 56 Rashtriya Rifles
Lance Naik Pandit Mane – 2nd Battalion

Notable officers

;Chief of Army Staff

General Joginder Jaswant Singh – 21st Chief of Army Staff

;Vice Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General Vijay Oberoi – Vice Chief of the Army Staff, former founder President of the War Wounded Foundation.

;Army Commanders

Lieutenant General T B Henderson Brooks – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar – GOC of 9th Infantry Division led Operation Bluestar. He retired as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command.
Lieutenant General Krishnamurthy Nagaraj – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Western Command and Army Training Command
Lieutenant General Hari Prasad – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command
Lieutenant General HRS Kalkat – General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command

;Others

Lieutenant General MA Zaki – Commanded 15 Corps, was Director General Infantry and later acted as the advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Lieutenant General DB Shekhatkar – General Officer Commanding 4 Corps, Additional Director General of Military operations and Director General of Perspective planning. Was chairman of the committee to recommend measures to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces.
Lieutenant General Satish Nambiar – Director General of Military Operations and first Force Commander and Head of Mission of UNPROFOR, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff
Lieutenant General Narendra Singh – Deputy Chief of the Army Staff
Lieutenant General DS Thakur – Director General Military Intelligence and Deputy Chief of the Army Staff.
Lieutenant General Harinder Singh – GOC 14 Corps and Commandant of Indian Military Academy.
Lieutenant General Ashok Ambre – Quarter Master General
Lieutenant General Satish Satpute – General Officer Commanding 21 Corps
Lieutenant General PR Gangadharan – General Officer Commanding 12 Corps and Military Secretary
Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh – General Officer Commanding 11 Corps
Lieutenant General J S Dhillon – General Officer Commanding 15 Corps
Lieutenant General Parminder Jit Singh Pannu – General Officer Commanding 14 Corps, Director General Infantry, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff.
Lieutenant General Asit Mistry – Commandant of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla
Lieutenant General TPS Brar – General Officer Commanding 16 Corps
Lieutenant General Gopal Krishan Duggal – General Officer Commanding 10 Corps
Major General DS Brar – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment
Major General Eustace D'Souza – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment
Major General H W Kulkarni – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment
Major General Bachitar Singh – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment
Brigadier Saurabh Singh Shekhawat – avid mountaineer and one of the most decorated officers of the Indian Army.
Captain C. P. Krishnan Nair – founder of The Leela Group.
Major Nana Patekar – Actor, who was part of Indian Territorial Army

Sporting achievements

Major Shantaram Jadhav, Subedar Shankar Laxman and Naik Vishwas Patil were part of the Indian hockey squad to the 1960 Rome Olympics in.
Colonel HS Chauhan is a veteran in the field of mountaineering, was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, went on to become Principal of Himalayan Mountaineering Institute and became President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation.
The following have represented the country/services team in wrestling – Naib Subedar Shivaji Kekan, Naib Subedar Ashok Shirke, Naib Subedar Maruti Ghadi, Subedar Major Vasant Solankar, Subedar Major/Hony. Captain Shivaji Chingle, Subedar Major/Hony Capt Raghunath Pawar, Lance Naik Dudhappa Asudekar, Naik Yellappa Pote, Naib Subedar Ashok Shirke, Havildar Krishna Patil, Sepoy Prashant Jamnik.
Havildar Keshav More was the National Boxing Champion between 1962 and 1963.
Shooting – Subedar Shivaji Lavate, Havildar Begaram, Havildar BR Patil, Havildar Sanjay More.