Which one among the following is the oldest regiment of the Indian Army ?

The Madras Regiment is recognized as the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formally raised by the British East India Company in 1758 [t3][t4]. While the Punjab Regiment also has a long history dating back to 1757, the Madras Regiment maintains the distinction of being the senior-most infantry regiment in terms of continuous service and formal lineage within the modern Indian Army structure [t2][t3]. The regiment's origins are linked to the Madras Levies, which were organized into regular battalions to protect British interests in South India. In contrast, the Dogra Regiment and Gorkha Rifles were established much later, primarily during the 19th century [t1]. The Madras Regiment's motto 'Swadharme Nidhanam Shreyaha' and its historical participation in numerous colonial and post-independence campaigns underscore its status as the foundational infantry unit of the Indian military establishment [t4].

Sources

1. [1] https://archive.org/stream/RegimentsOfIndianArmy/collection_djvu.txt