[2] The regiment distinguished itself in operations with its defence of Chhamb in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War and won one Maha Vir Chakra.

[8] The Regimental insignia consists of crossed lances with pennons in red and white, overlaid with the Ashoka Lion Capital above and the Roman numeral "XX" below and a scroll at the base with the words ‘Lancers’.

The army deployed tanks at the base of Gurung Hill, a towering feature on one side of the Spanggur Gap to deny the approach of the advancing Chinese Army and secure the crucial approaches leading to Chushul and Leh.

Pakistan's surprise attack on 1 September, 1965 fell on 191 Infantry Brigade, which was supported by 'C' Squadron of the regiment under Maj Bhaskar Roy.

During the initial phases of the attack, Roy destroyed 6 Pattons, 3 recoil-less guns and captured a jeep.

A second attack was launched by Pakistani armour at 1100 hours and contested by the AMX-13s of 20 Lancers, which despite being outgunned and outnumbered, destroyed a total 13 tanks that day and prevented the encirclement of 191 Infantry Brigade.

The battle honours of the regiment are:[17] Charasiah — Kabul 1879 — Afghanistan 1878-80 Neuve Chapelle — France and Flanders 1914-15 — Kut al Amara 1917 — Sharqat - Mesopotamia 1916-18 - Persia 1916-19 - NW Frontier India - 1915 Jammu and Kashmir 1965 The regiment was presented the President's Standards on at Sangrur, Punjab 1978 by the then President of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy.