The Regular Infantry Regiments of the British Indian Army

The Early Years until 1796

The Reorganisation of 1796

The Two Battalion Regiments 1796 - 1824


From the Reorganisation of 1824 to the Mutiny

flag-EIC-1801

In 1824 the two battalion structure was abandoned and all battalions became independent numbered regiments. The next years saw only a few changes, but the Great Mutiny in 1857 all but destroyed the Bengal Army.

For reasons of space only shortened designations of the regiments are in the table below. The full titles being e.g. 1st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry

Contents
- Bengal European -
- Bengal Native -
- Bengal Local and Irregular -
- Punjab Irregular -
- Madras European -
- Madras Native -
- Hyderabad -
- Bombay European -
- Bombay Native -
 

- Bengal European -
 
Before 1839 Bengal European 1839 British Army 1862
The BER 1st Bengal Regiment 1841: 1st Bengal Light Infantry 1846: 1st Bengal Fusiliers 101st Foot
2nd Bengal Light Infantry 1850: 2nd Bengal Fusiliers 104th Foot
1854: 3rd Bengal Light Infantry 107th Foot
raised during the mutiny: 4th Bengal European Regiment discontinued
raised during the mutiny: 5th Bengal European Regiment discontinued
raised during the mutiny: 6th Bengal European Regiment discontinued
 

- Bengal Native -
 
Before 1824 Bengal Native 1824 Mutiny In 1861
2nd Bn, 12th BNI 1st Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 1st BNI 2nd Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1st Bn, 6th BNI 3rd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 1st BNI 4th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1st Bn, 2nd BNI 5th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 3rd BNI 6th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 4th BNI 7th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 9th BNI 8th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 8th BNI 9th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 7th BNI 10th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 5th BNI 11th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 12th BNI 12th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 7th BNI 13th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 10th BNI 14th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 11th BNI 15th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 10th BNI 16th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
2nd Bn, 11th BNI 17th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 6th BNI 18th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 3rd BNI 19th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
2nd Bn, 5th BNI 20th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 9th BNI 21st Bengal Native Infantry 1st BNI
2nd Bn, 2nd BNI 22nd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 4th BNI 23rd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 8th BNI 24th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1st Bn, 20th BNI 25th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1st Bn, 13th BNI 26th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 13th BNI 27th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1st Bn, 14th BNI 28th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 14th BNI 29th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 15th BNI 30th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 15th BNI 31st Bengal Native Infantry 2nd BNI
1st Bn, 16th BNI 32nd Bengal Native Infantry 3rd BNI
2nd Bn, 16th BNI 33rd Bengal Native Infantry 4th BNI
1st Bn, 17th BNI 34th Bengal Native Infantry 1844: disbanded
1846: 34th Bengal Native Infantry ¹ mutinied
2nd Bn, 17th BNI 35th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1st Bn, 18th BNI 36th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 18th BNI 37th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 19th BNI 38th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 19th BNI 39th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
2nd Bn, 20th BNI 40th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 21st BNI 41st Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 21st BNI 42nd Bengal Native Infantry 5th BNI
1st Bn, 22nd BNI 43rd Bengal Native Infantry 6th BNI
2nd Bn, 22nd BNI 44th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1st Bn, 23rd BNI 45th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 23rd BNI 46th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 24th BNI disbanded
from 69th BNI 1828: 47th Bengal Native Infantry 7th BNI
2nd Bn, 24th BNI 48th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 25th BNI 49th Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
2nd Bn, 25th BNI 50th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 26th BNI 51st Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
2nd Bn, 26th BNI 52nd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 27th BNI 53rd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 27th BNI 54th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 28th BNI 55th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 28th BNI 56th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 29th BNI 57th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 29th BNI 58th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1st Bn, 30th BNI 59th Bengal Native Infantry 8th BNI
2nd Bn, 30th BNI 60th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 31st BNI 61st Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
2nd Bn, 31st BNI 62nd Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1st Bn, 32nd BNI 63rd Bengal Native Infantry 9th BNI
2nd Bn, 32nd BNI 64th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1st Bn, 33rd BNI 65th Bengal Native Infantry 10th BNI
2nd Bn, 33rd BNI 66th Bengal Native Infantry 1850: mutinied
1850: 66th Bengal Native Infantry ² 11th BNI
1st Bn, 34th BNI 67th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
2nd Bn, 34th BNI 68th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
69th Bengal Native Infantry 1828: 47th BNI
1825: 1st Extra BNI 1850: 69th Bengal Native Infantry disarmed
1825: 2nd Extra BNI 1850: 70th Bengal Native Infantry 12th BNI
1825: 3rd Extra BNI 1850: 71st Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1825: 4th Extra BNI 1850: 72nd Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
1825: 5th Extra BNI 1850: 73rd Bengal Native Infantry disbanded
1825: 6th Extra BNI 1850: 74th Bengal Native Infantry mutinied
raised during the mutiny: The Extra Goorkha Regiment 19th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Regiment of Lucknow 20th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Loyal Purbeah Levy 21st BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Allahabad Levy 37th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Mhair Regiment police corps
raised during the mutiny: The Kamroop Regiment discontinued
raised during the mutiny: The Fatehgarh Levy 38th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Mynpoorie Levy 39th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Bareilly Levy 40th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Meerut Levy 41st BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Agra Levy 42nd BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Aligarh Levy 43rd BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Shajehanpur Levy 44th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Cawnpore Levy discontinued
raised during the mutiny: The Moradabad Levy discontinued
raised during the mutiny: 1st Gwalior Regiment 45th BNI
raised during the mutiny: The Sealkote Infantry Levy discontinued
raised during the mutiny: The Goojranwallah Levy discontinued
raised during the mutiny: The Kemaoon Levy discontinued
raised during the mutiny: 2nd Gwalior Regiment discontinued
raised during the mutiny: The Bhopal Levy Bhopal Bn
 
¹ from the infantry of The Bundelkund Legion (see Bengal Irregular below)
² from 4th (Nasiri) Rifle Battalion (see Bengal Local below)
 

- Bengal Local and Irregular -
 
Before 1826 Bengal Local 1826 Mutiny In 1861
1st BLI 1st Bengal Local Infantry 1859: The Alipore Regiment 22nd BNI
2nd BLI 2nd Bengal Local Infantry mutinied
3rd BLI 3rd Bengal Local Infantry police corps
4th BLI disbanded
5th BLI 4th Bengal Local Infantry 1850: 66th Bengal Native Infantry 11th BNI
6th BLI
7th BLI 5th Bengal Local Infantry 1829: disbanded
8th BLI 6th Bengal Local Infantry 1858: The Sirmoor Rifle Regiment 17th BNI
9th BLI 7th Bengal Local Infantry 1860: The Kumaon Battalion 18th BNI
10th BLI 8th Bengal Local Infantry 1844: 1st Assam Light Infantry 46th BNI
11th BLI disbanded
12th BLI disbanded
13th BLI disbanded
14th BLI 9th Bengal Local Infantry 1843: The Mhairwara Battalion police corps
15th BLI 10th Bengal Local Infantry 1829: disbanded
16th BLI 11th Bengal Local Infantry The Sylhet Light Infantry 48th BNI
1835: Assam Sebundi Corps 1844: 2nd Assam Light Infantry 47th BNI
1835: Shekhawati Battalion 14th BNI
1836: 1st Oudh Local Infantry 1856: to the Oudh Irregular Force mutinied
1836: 2nd Oudh Local Infantry 1856: to the Oudh Irregular Force mutinied
1836: Harriana Light Infantry mutinied
1838: Shah Shuja’s Force 1842: The Regiment of Kelat-i-Ghilzie 13th BNI
1840: Mulwa Bhil Corps police corps
1840: Meywar Bhil Corps police corps
1846: Regiment of Ferozepore 15th BNI
1846: Regiment of Ludhiana 16th BNI
1853: Pegu Light Infantry police corps
1856: Bengal Military Police 49th BNI
 
Bengal Irregular Contingents Mutiny
1835: Judpur Legion mutinied
1838: Bundelkund Legion ³
1838: Gwalior Contingent mutinied
1843: Kotah Contingent mutinied
1845: Mulwa Contingent mutinied
1845: Bhopal Contingent mutinied
1845: Nimour Police Corps mutinied
1854: Nagpore Irregular Force disbanded
1856: Oudh Irregular Force mutinied
1856: Oudh Military Police disbanded
 
³ 1844: disbanded and infantry formed 34th Bengal Native Infantry (see Bengal Native above)
 

- Punjab Irregular -
 
1846 Punjab Irregular Force 1851 In 1861
The Corps of Guides 1857: The Corps of Guides, PIF Guides
1st Sikh Local Infantry 1857: 1st Sikh Infantry, PIF 1st Sikh
2nd Sikh Local Infantry 1857: 2nd Sikh Infantry, PIF 2nd Sikh
3rd Sikh Local Infantry 1857: 3rd Sikh Infantry, PIF 3rd Sikh
4th Sikh Local Infantry 1857: 4th Sikh Infantry, PIF 4th Sikh
1849: 1st Punjab Infantry 1851: 1st Infantry, PIF 1st Infantry
1849: 2nd Punjab Infantry 1851: 2nd Infantry, PIF 2nd Infantry
1849: 3rd Punjab Infantry 1851: 3rd Infantry, PIF 3rd Infantry
1849: 4th Punjab Infantry 1851: 4th Infantry, PIF 4th Infantry
1849: 5th Punjab Infantry 1851: 5th Infantry, PIF 5th Infantry
1843: The Scinde Camel Corps 1853: 6th Infantry, PIF 6th Infantry
raised during the mutiny: 7th Punjab Infantry 23rd BNI
raised during the mutiny: 8th Punjab Infantry 24th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 9th Punjab Infantry 25th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 10th Punjab Infantry disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 11th Punjab Infantry 26th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 12th Punjab Infantry disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 13th Punjab Infantry disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 14th Punjab Infantry disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 15th Punjab Infantry 27th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 16th Punjab Infantry 28th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 17th Punjab Infantry 29th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 18th Punjab Infantry 30th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 19th Punjab Infantry 31st BNI
raised during the mutiny: 20th Punjab Infantry 32nd BNI
raised during the mutiny: 21st Punjab Infantry 33rd BNI
raised during the mutiny: 22nd Punjab Infantry 34th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 23rd Punjab Infantry 35th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 24th Punjab Infantry 36th BNI
raised during the mutiny: 25th Punjab Infantry 7th Infantry
 

- Madras European -
 
Before 1839 Madras European 1839 British Army 1862
The MER 1st Madras Regiment 1843: 1st Madras Fusiliers 102nd Foot
2nd Madras Regiment 1842: 2nd Madras Light Infantry 105th Foot
1854: 3rd Madras Infantry 108th Foot
 

- Madras Native -
 
Before 1824 Madras Native 1824 In 1861
1st Bn, 1st MNI 1st Madras Native Infantry 1st MNI
1st Bn, 2nd MNI 2nd Madras Native Infantry 2nd MNI
1st Bn, 3rd MNI 3rd Madras Native Infantry 3rd MNI
1st Bn, 4th MNI 4th Madras Native Infantry 4th MNI
1st Bn, 5th MNI 5th Madras Native Infantry 5th MNI
1st Bn, 6th MNI 6th Madras Native Infantry 6th MNI
1st Bn, 7th MNI 7th Madras Native Infantry 7th MNI
1st Bn, 8th MNI 8th Madras Native Infantry 8th MNI
1st Bn, 9th MNI 9th Madras Native Infantry 9th MNI
1st Bn, 10th MNI 10th Madras Native Infantry 10th MNI
2nd Bn, 9th MNI 11th Madras Native Infantry 11th MNI
2nd Bn, 8th MNI 12th Madras Native Infantry 12th MNI
2nd Bn, 3rd MNI 13th Madras Native Infantry 13th MNI
2nd Bn, 6th MNI 14th Madras Native Infantry 14th MNI
2nd Bn, 4th MNI 15th Madras Native Infantry 15th MNI
2nd Bn, 5th MNI 16th Madras Native Infantry 16th MNI
2nd Bn, 1st MNI 17th Madras Native Infantry 17th MNI
2nd Bn, 10th MNI 18th Madras Native Infantry 18th MNI
2nd Bn, 7th MNI 19th Madras Native Infantry 19th MNI
2nd Bn, 2nd MNI 20th Madras Native Infantry 20th MNI
1st Bn, 11th MNI 21st Madras Native Infantry 21st MNI
2nd Bn, 11nd MNI 22nd Madras Native Infantry 22nd MNI
1st Bn, 12th MNI 23rd Madras Native Infantry 23rd MNI
2nd Bn, 12th MNI 24th Madras Native Infantry 24th MNI
1st Bn, 13th MNI 25th Madras Native Infantry 25th MNI
2nd Bn, 13th MNI 26th Madras Native Infantry 26th MNI
1st Bn, 14th MNI 27th Madras Native Infantry 27th MNI
2nd Bn, 14th MNI 28th Madras Native Infantry 28th MNI
1st Bn, 15th MNI 29th Madras Native Infantry 29th MNI
2nd Bn, 15th MNI 30th Madras Native Infantry 30th MNI
1st Bn, 16th MNI 31st Madras Native Infantry 31st MNI
2nd Bn, 16th MNI 32nd Madras Native Infantry 32nd MNI
1st Bn, 17th MNI 33rd Madras Native Infantry 33rd MNI
2nd Bn, 17th MNI 34th Madras Native Infantry 34th MNI
1st Bn, 18th MNI 35th Madras Native Infantry 35th MNI
2nd Bn, 18th MNI 36th Madras Native Infantry 36th MNI
1st Bn, 19th MNI 37th Madras Native Infantry 37th MNI
2nd Bn, 19th MNI 38th Madras Native Infantry 38th MNI
1st Bn, 20th MNI 39th Madras Native Infantry 39th MNI
2nd Bn, 20th MNI 40th Madras Native Infantry 40th MNI
1st Bn, 21st MNI 41st Madras Native Infantry 41st MNI
2nd Bn, 21st MNI 42nd Madras Native Infantry 42nd MNI
1st Bn, 22nd MNI 43rd Madras Native Infantry 43rd MNI
2nd Bn, 22nd MNI 44th Madras Native Infantry 44th MNI
1st Bn, 23rd MNI 45th Madras Native Infantry 45th MNI
2nd Bn, 23rd MNI 46th Madras Native Infantry 46th MNI
M Rifle Corps Madras Rifle Corps 1830: disbanded
1st Bn, 24th MNI 47th Madras Native Infantry 47th MNI
2nd Bn, 24th MNI 48th Madras Native Infantry 48th MNI
1st Bn, 25th MNI 49th Madras Native Infantry 49th MNI
2nd Bn, 25th MNI 50th Madras Native Infantry 50th MNI
1826: 1st Extra MNI 1830: 51st Madras Native Infantry 51st MNI
1826: 2nd Extra MNI 1830: 52nd Madras Native Infantry 52nd MNI
1826: 3rd Extra MNI 1830: disbanded
1826: 4th Extra MNI 1830: disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 1st Extra MNI disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 2nd Extra MNI disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 3rd Extra MNI disbanded
raised during the mutiny: Madras Sappers Militia disbanded
 

- Hyderabad -
 
Before 1826 Nizam’s Army 1826 Hyderabad Contingent 1854
1st Bn, Russell Bde 1st Infantry 1st Infantry
2nd Bn, Russell Bde 2nd Infantry 2nd Infantry
1st Bn, Berar Bde 3rd Infantry 3rd Infantry
2nd Bn, Berar Bde 4th Infantry 4th Infantry
3rd Bn, Berar Bde 5th Infantry 1853: disbanded
4th Bn, Berar Bde 6th Infantry 1853: disbanded
1st Bn, Ellichpur Bde 7th Infantry 5th Infantry
2nd Bn, Ellichpur Bde 8th Infantry 6th Infantry
 

- Bombay European -
 
Before 1839 Bombay European 1839 British Army 1862
The ByER 1st Bombay Regiment 1843: 1st Bombay Fusiliers 103rd Foot
2nd Bombay Regiment 1844: 2nd Bombay Light Infantry 106th Foot
1853: 3rd Bombay Regiment 109th Foot
 

- Bombay Native -
 
Before 1824 Bombay Native 1824 Mutiny In 1861
1st Bn, 1st ByNI 1st Bombay Native Infantry 1st ByNI
2nd Bn, 1st ByNI 2nd Bombay Native Infantry 2nd ByNI
1st Bn, 2nd ByNI 3rd Bombay Native Infantry 3rd ByNI
2nd Bn, 2nd ByNI 4th Bombay Native Infantry 4th ByNI
1st Bn, 3rd ByNI 5th Bombay Native Infantry 5th ByNI
2nd Bn, 3rd ByNI 6th Bombay Native Infantry 6th ByNI
1st Bn, 4th ByNI 7th Bombay Native Infantry 7th ByNI
2nd Bn, 4th ByNI 8th Bombay Native Infantry 8th ByNI
1st Bn, 5th ByNI 9th Bombay Native Infantry 9th ByNI
2nd Bn, 5th ByNI 10th Bombay Native Infantry 10th ByNI
1st Bn, 6th ByNI 11th Bombay Native Infantry 11th ByNI
2nd Bn, 6th ByNI 12th Bombay Native Infantry 12th ByNI
1st Bn, 7th ByNI 13th Bombay Native Infantry 13th ByNI
2nd Bn, 7th ByNI 14th Bombay Native Infantry 14th ByNI
1st Bn, 8th ByNI 15th Bombay Native Infantry 15th ByNI
2nd Bn, 8th ByNI 16th Bombay Native Infantry 16th ByNI
1st Bn, 9th ByNI 17th Bombay Native Infantry 17th ByNI
2nd Bn, 9th ByNI 18th Bombay Native Infantry 18th ByNI
1st Bn, 10th ByNI 19th Bombay Native Infantry 19th ByNI
2nd Bn, 10th ByNI 20th Bombay Native Infantry 20th ByNI
2nd Extra ByNI 21st Bombay Native Infantry mutinied
1st Bn, 11th ByNI Marine Bombay Native Infantry 21st ByNI
2nd Bn, 11nd ByNI 22nd Bombay Native Infantry 22nd ByNI
1st Bn, 12th ByNI 23rd Bombay Native Infantry 23rd ByNI
2nd Bn, 12th ByNI 24th Bombay Native Infantry 24th ByNI
1st Extra ByNI 25th Bombay Native Infantry 25th ByNI
1825: 2nd Extra ByNI 1825: 26th Bombay Native Infantry 26th ByNI
1825: 3rd Extra ByNI 1826: 1st Extra ByNI 1829: disbanded
1825: 4th Extra ByNI 1826: 2nd Extra ByNI 1829: disbanded
1844: 1st Balooch Battalion 27th ByNI
1846: 27th Bombay Native Infantry mutinied
1846: 28th Bombay Native Infantry 28th ByNI
1846: 29th Bombay Native Infantry disbanded
1846: 2nd Balooch Battalion 29th ByNI
raised during the mutiny: 1st Regiment, Jacob’s Rifles 30th ByNI
raised during the mutiny: 2nd Regiment, Jacob’s Rifles disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 3rd Balooch Battalion disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 30th Bombay Native Infantry ⁴ disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 31st Bombay Native Infantry ⁵ disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 1st Extra Battalion disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 2nd Extra Battalion disbanded
raised during the mutiny: 3rd Extra Battalion disbanded
 
loyal elements from 21st ByNI formed 30th ByNI
loyal elements from 27th ByNI formed 31st ByNI
 

From the The Mutiny to the Indian Army

The Regiments in 1885

The Regiments in 1902

From 1903 to the Large Regiments of 1922

The Regiments in 1914

The 1922 Reorganisation into Large Regiments

The Regiments in 1922

The Second World War and Independence

The Second World War and Independence

The Indian Regiments since 1950