The Scout Movement came to India in 1909. As it was then open to Anglo-Indian and European boy sonly, it was thought necessary to organize a Scout Movement for the benefit of the Indian boys and girls. Accordingly Dr. Annie Besant assisted by Dr. G.S. Arundale established in 1916 the Indian Boy Scouts Association in the South and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Pt.Hridayanath Kunzru assisted by Pt.Shri Ram Bajpai, in 1917 established the Seva Samithi Scout Association in the North. In the year 1922 the Indian Boy Scout Association was amalgamated with the Boy Scout Association in India while the Seva Samithi Scout Association in India while the Seva Samithi Scout Association continued to work as an independent and separate organization. In 1938 due to a wave of intense nationalism a considerable number of members of the intense nationalism a considerable number of members of the Boy Scout Association left it. They along with the Seva Samithi Scout Association in India and the newly formed India National Scout Association formed the Hindustan Scout Association open to Boys and Girls alike. Both the Hindustan Scout Association and the Boy Scout Association in India continued to function separately.

        After the attainment of Swaraj in 1947 all the differences that existed previously between the different Associations disappeared. The Boy Scout Association in India and Hindustan Scout Association merged themselves on 7th November 1950 under the name of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.

        The Girl Guides Association in India, which all along functioned as a separate organization for girls, also joined the Bharat Scouts and Guides on 15th August 1951. "The Bharat Scouts and Guides" is thus the only Scout Association in India recognized by the Government both at the center and the states functioning both for boys and girls.

        The Bharat Scouts and Guides is the only Association in India having International reorganization. The Scout section is registered with the World Scout Bureau and the Guide section a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.