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

The Madras Regiment is the oldest infantry regiment of the Indian Army, tracing its origins back to 1758. It was formed by the British East India Company as the Madras European Regiment and later evolved into the Madras Native Infantry. While the Punjab Regiment also has deep roots dating back to 1761, the Madras Regiment precedes it. The military was the backbone of the Company's rule, with native regiments recruited locally but led by British officers . Other regiments like the Sikh Regiment (1846) and Kumaon Regiment (1813/1917) were established much later during the expansion of British control. The reorganization of the army after the 1857 revolt aimed to prevent further mutinies by systematically restructuring these units . Consequently, the Madras Regiment remains the senior-most infantry regiment in terms of continuous service history.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Military Under the British > p. 519
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Starts at Meerut > p. 172