Lt Gen Vijay B Nair Takes Over as Colonel of Punjab Regiment from Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta

Lt Gen Vijay B Nair, Commandant of The Infantry School, Mhow, has taken over as Colonel of the Punjab Regiment after Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, ceremonially handed over the Baton of the appointment at the Punjab Regimental Centre on August 18, 2026.

The handover was conducted during a solemn ceremony that formally marked the transition of one of the regiment’s most important appointments. In the Indian Army’s regimental system, the Colonel of the Regiment is closely associated with the custodianship of a formation’s traditions, identity and welfare, and the baton is a visible symbol of that responsibility.

For the Punjab Regiment, the baton carries deep regimental meaning. It represents honour, responsibility, pride and the continuing bond between generations of soldiers who have served under the same colours. The ceremony at the Punjab Regimental Centre reflected that sense of continuity, even as leadership passed to a new incumbent.

Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta’s tenure as Colonel of the Regiment was marked by efforts to strengthen both training and institutional capacity within the Punjab Regiment. Among the key initiatives during his period in office was the raising of the Bhairav Battalion. He also spearheaded improvements to important training infrastructure at the Punjab Regimental Centre.

Those measures were aimed at enhancing the centre’s ability to train Agniveers and to further develop the professional skills of young soldiers entering the regiment. The focus on training infrastructure and force development underlined the regiment’s effort to prepare its personnel for evolving operational demands while maintaining its established standards.

The ceremony also highlighted the Punjab Regiment’s long-standing military ethos. While the regiment continues to preserve its traditions, the transition of leadership was presented as part of its ability to adapt to the requirements of the modern battlefield without losing sight of its historical identity.

With Lt Gen Vijay B Nair now assuming the responsibility, the regiment moves into its next phase under fresh leadership while carrying forward its traditions, values and service legacy. The handover also served as a reminder of the enduring regimental spirit shared by serving personnel, veterans and generations of soldiers associated with the Punjab Regiment’s distinguished history.