Indian State Forces Battalions 1947
v.1.0 April 28, 2012
Mandeep Singh Bajwa and Ravi Rikhye
This account lists Indian State Forces infantry battalions in the period 1947-48. These battalions came under Indian Army command on accession of the princely states to the Union of India in 1947. They belonged to the nominally autonomous princely states and were provided to the British-Indian Army by the state rulers. While most ISF bns had unique titles the British tended to style them as ‘State Infantry’ for ease of reference.
These battalions were regularized in 1951; their new designations are provided.
1 Patiala Rajindra Sikh Infantry |
15 Punjab |
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Jind
Infantry |
13 Punjab |
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Mewar Infantry Alwar Jai Paltan Bharatpur State Infantry Kota Umed Infantry |
These 4 battalions were
amalgamated into 9 Grenadiers |
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1 Mysore State Infantry |
18 Madras |
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Nabha Akal Infantry |
14 Punjab |
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1 Travancore State Infantry |
9 Madras |
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2 Patiala Yadvindra Infantry |
16 Punjab |
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2 Hyderabad State Infantry |
22 MLI |
See note |
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2 Mysore State Infantry |
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2 Travancore Nair State Infantry |
16 Madras |
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3 Mysore State Infantry |
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4 Gwalior Infantry |
14 Kumaon |
Now 5 Mech |
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Baroda |
20 MLI |
Now 10 Mech |
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Tripura Manikya
Rifles |
Assam Rifles |
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Bikaner Sadul Infantry |
19 Rajput |
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Cochin State |
17 Madras |
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Indore Infantry |
15 Kumaon |
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J & K State Forces Infantry |
See note below |
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Jodhpur Sardar Infantry battalion |
20 Rajput claims 1212
AD World's oldest infantry |
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Kohlapur Raja Ram Infantry |
19 MLI |
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Kutch, Saurashtra SF |
7 Grenadiers |
Now 9 Mech |
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Saurashtra SF |
18 Raj Rif |
Now 11 Mech |
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Sawai Man Guards |
17 Raj Rif |
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Mandi, Suket, Chamba,
Sirmaur ISF |
16 Dogra |
Raised 1949 |
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Bikaner Ganga Risala |
13 Grenadier |
See Note below |
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Jammu and
Kashmir Infantry State Forces
1 through 9 battalions Jammu and Kashmir Infantry State Forces were absorbed by the Indian similar numbered battalions of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles on the state’s accession to India in October 1947. The battalions had to be rebuilt because the Muslim troops deserted to Pakistan, and many of the Hindu and Sikh troops were killed, wounded, prisoner, or MIA during the uprising which preceded Kashmir’s accession to the Union.
Bikaner Ganga
Risala
Bikaner Ganga Risala (amalgamated with Jaisalmer Defence Battalion, an Indian Army battalion) became 13 Grenadiers .
Jodhpur Sardar Infantry
20 Rajput is now 24 Mech (R&S) The claim to be the world’s oldest inf bn is pretty contentious and is not recognized by the Army or serious historians.
Hyderabad State Forces
In the case of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in the Union, there were two sets of forces. One was the Indian contingent provided to the Indian Army, including 9 Deccan Horse and the Kumaon Regiment. The other was the state forces. Of the 15 battalions all but one were disbanded when in 1948 the Indian Army invaded Hyderabad state after the refusal of the Nizam to integrate with the Union. The exception was 2nd Hyderabad State Infantry which became 22 Maratha Light Infantry.