The Jat Regiment

The Jat Regiment is one of the Indian Army’s long-serving infantry regiments, tracing its origins to the Calcutta Native Militia raised in 1795. Its history spans the British Indian Army and independent India, including service in the First and Second World Wars, the 1947–48 Jammu and Kashmir operations, the 1965 and 1971 India–Pakistan wars, and the Kargil conflict of 1999. The Regiment’s Regimental Centre is located at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Its motto, “Sangathan Va Veerta,” means “Unity and Valour,” and its war cry is “Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan.” The Regiment’s traditions, battle honours and service across generations form an important part of its military legacy.

The present regimental insignia features the Roman numeral IX, recalling the regiment’s place in the 1920s regimental hierarchy. It includes the Lion Capital of Ashoka and a bugle representing the Light Infantry antecedents of the regiment’s earlier units. The pre-independence insignia differed in its historical crown and shoulder-title design.

The Jat Regiment traces its origins to the Calcutta Native Militia, raised in 1795 for garrison and local guard duties. The unit subsequently passed through several reorganisations as the armies of British India evolved. In the years following the 1857 uprising, recruitment patterns and infantry organisation changed substantially. Following the 1922 reorganisation, the 9th Jat Regiment was formed by bringing together battalions with different service histories. The prefix “9th” was dropped in November 1945, and the regiment became known as The Jat Regiment. Following Independence and Partition in 1947, it continued service in the Indian Army. The Regiment and its antecedent units served in the First and Second World Wars, including campaigns in France, Mesopotamia, North Africa, Burma and Malaya. After Independence, its service included the 1947–48 Jammu and Kashmir operations, the 1962 India–China War, the 1965 and 1971 India–Pakistan wars, and later operational deployments. The 3rd Battalion earned the battle honour Dograi during the 1965 war, the 5th Battalion earned Phillora, and the 17th Battalion received recognition associated with the Mushkoh sector during the 1999 Kargil conflict. Jat Regiment battalions have also participated in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka and in counter-insurgency operations. The Regimental Centre is located at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. The Roman numeral nine in the regimental insignia recalls the regiment’s place in the 1920s regimental hierarchy. The insignia also features the national emblem and a bugle reflecting the Light Infantry heritage of its antecedent units. The motto “Sangathan Va Veerta” expresses the ideals of unity and valour. Its war cry, “Jat Balwan, Jai Bhagwan,” remains a defining regimental tradition.