Though the role and importance of the mounted soldier and his successor the tankman is  changing fast in modern war­ fare, he  still  retains  his  place  of  honour in the Indian Army as established  by history  and  tradition.  Our Armoured Corps today  combines the dash and  elan of old cavaliers and lancers with the proficiency of expert gunners and the scientific  skill  of  electronic  operators.

16th Light Cavalry is the seniormost regiment of the Armoured Corps, entitled to stand on the right of all units on parade next after' the President's Body Guard.

The Regiment has been in existence as a separate and continuous entity from 1776 when it was serving the Nawab of  Arcot as his 3rd Regiment of Cavalry.  It fought so well in the Carnatic Wars of the Seventeen-eighties that the East India Company got it permanently transferred to its own Army.

During two hundred years of distinguished service, the Regiment has seen many changes of organisations and designations. Manned originally by men from the Madras Presidency, its composition was changed in 1903 to Rajputs, Jats and Deccani Mohamadans. Since independence the Regiment has regained its original South Indian composition. The Regiment assumed its present designation in 1922.

In 1940, the Regiment gave up its horses and sabres to fight with guns and cannons in tanks and armoured cars. In the Second World War, the Regiment showed its prowess in mechanised warfare by spear­heading the reconquest of Burma from the Japanese. During the  Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, the Regiment fought  in the van of the Indian advance into Pakistan in the Pasrur and Shakargarh Sectors. The battle honour of 'Phillora' is now inscribed  on  its  standards.

The Regiment was the first to be selected for Indianisation and among its first Indian officers are such distinguished leaders of the post-independence Indian Army as General  J.N.  Chaudhuri, Lieutenant General M.S. Wadalia and Lieutenant  General  S.D. Verma.

In the course of its long career, the Regiment has won numerous distinctions including many battle honours, gallantry awards, mentions in despatches and commendation  cards.

To mark its bicentenary, the President of India is presenting new colours to this famous Regiment on 4th March, 1976. The P and T Department is happy to commemorate  this  occasion  by  issuing a special postage stamp depicting a Vijayanta  tank manufactured in India.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India