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army of H. H. the Nizam, which is by far the largest army of any native ruler in India, consists of irregular troops, regular troops, the Golconda Brigade, the Imperial Service troops, the Nizam Mahbub regiment, and volunteers.

The Irregular Forces, which have to-day an average strength of 13,533, date back to the time of Asaf Jah, and their ancestors were the Arabs, Rohillas, Afghans, Sikhs, Rahtores, Rajputs, and Baluchis who helped the first Nizam to conquer and settle Hyderabad. H. E. the Minister says of them in the administration report for 1320-21 Fasli (October 1910-12) : — "The reduction in the number of irregular troops goes on slowly. Vested interests have to be res- pected, but the cost of these irregulars, twenty-three and a quarter lakhs a year, is still a very heavy burden to the State."