Recruitment to Sikh Regiment Improves

September

2026

Recruitment to the Sikh Regiment has improved after the Indian Army intensified efforts to attract youth from Panjab to the regiment, which has a long history of gallantry and military honors. Recruitment declined after the Agnipath (short service) scheme was introduced in 2022 and as many young people from Panjab migrated to countries such as Canada, US, UK, and Australia for higher studies and jobs. To encourage recruitment, the Sikh Regiment launched an outreach campaign with the slogan, 'Come, join the Army. Come, join the Sikh Regiment'. The campaign aimed to revive the regiment's legacy of valor among Panjab's youth. Around 8K vacancies are released annually for recruitment from the state, though the intake varies depending on retirements and discharges. A senior Army officer said, ‘In 2024–25, only about 30% of the vacancies meant for the regiment could be filled. In 2025–26, this went up to about 70%.’ These vacancies included unfilled vacancies from previous years. Recruitment teams visited villages, interacted with sarpanches (village council heads) and local residents, and motivated eligible candidates to join the regiment. A senior Army officer from the Sikh Regiment said several factors contributed to the decline, including negative perceptions about the Agnipath scheme, concerns over employment after four years of service, the growing trend of overseas migration, drug abuse, gangsterism, and many candidates failing to meet the Army's physical standards. Army officials said they discussed recruitment from Panjab and post-discharge employment opportunities for Agniveers (those who serve the short service scheme) with Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Sikh Regiment, one of the Army's most decorated regiments, dates back to August 1846. Since India’s independence in 1947, the regiment has received two Param Vir Chakras (highest gallantry decoration), eight Mahaveer Chakras (second-highest military decoration), four Ashok Chakras (peacetime decoration), 75 Battle Honours, and 38 Theatre Honours. The Sikh Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, and Punjab Regiment, each with about 20 regular battalions, along with several Rashtriya Rifles and Territorial Army battalions, recruit from Panjab. Districts such as Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, and Tarn Taran have traditionally contributed large numbers of soldiers to the Army (earlier coverage).