President Patil presents trumpet banner to PBG

New Delhi, Mar 2: President Pratibha Patil presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to her bodyguards in an impressive ceremony at the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhavan last evening. She lauded the President's Body Guards (PBG) for their valor.

"I extend my heartiest greetings and congratulations to you for the impressive manner that you have displayed on this parade," she said. Equipped with armoured cars, its men are trained for operational duties, both as tankmen and airborne troops in addition to their ceremonial role. The PBG is the only military unit in the Indian army that is privileged to carry the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.

The regiment was raised during the British colonial rule at Varanasi by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings, in 1773 and was titled as the Governor General's Bodyguard.

Since its formation, the regiment continued to be a select cavalry unit, primarily for the personal and battlefield security of the Governor-General.

The regiment was renamed PBG when India became a republic on January 26, 1950.

ANI