Indian Armed Forces rank flags

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


This article is about the rank flags of Indian Armed Forces. For rank insignia of Indian Army, see Army ranks and insignia of India. For rank insignia of Indian Navy, see Naval ranks and insignia of India. For rank insignia of Indian Air Force, see Air Force ranks and insignia of India.
Indian Armed Forces
Military Manpower
Active troops
1,440,000 (2nd)
Reserve forces
2,096,000 (5th)
Paramilitary forces and CAPF
1,585,950 (6th)
Components
 Indian Army
 Indian Navy
 Indian Air Force
Paramilitary forces of India
Central Armed Police Forces
Strategic Nuclear Command
History
Military history of India
Ranks and insignia
Army • Navy • Air Force
Equivalent ranks and insignia of Indian Armed Forces.

Template:Equivalent ranks of Indian military The Indian Armed Forces follow the UK/Commonwealth ranking system, and their general and flag officers use rank flags.

Indian Armed Forces[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Indian Armed Forces A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem.

Indian Army[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Indian Army A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Field Marshal Red flag with crossed batons surrounded by a lotus flower wreath, the Ashoka lion emblem above the batons and five five-pointed stars across the bottom, all in yellow.[1]
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff Red flag with the national flag in the canton, with two crossed swords and the Ashoka lions emblem above them in the center of the flag and four five-pointed stars in a vertical line in the fly all yellow.[2]
Template:ListFlag Flag of the General
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Lieutenant General
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Principal Staff Officer
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Major General
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Brigadier

Indian Navy[edit]

Current rank flags (1950-2001; 2004-present)[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Indian Navy A white ensign, featuring the Flag of India in the canton, and a navy blue filled, gold-bordered octagon, enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy, located in the fly.
Template:ListFlag President's Colour of the Indian Navy Indian Naval ensign with State Emblem of India.
Template:ListFlag Commissioning pennant A white triangular pennant with at hoist the St. George's red cross defaced with the Ashoka Chakra.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Admiral (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Naval Staff)
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Vice Admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff)
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Rear Admiral
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Commodore
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Senior officer

Former rank flags (2001-2004)[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Admiral of the Fleet of the Indian Navy Never used.
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Admiral of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Rear Admiral of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Commodore of the Indian Navy
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Flag of Senior Officer of the Indian Navy

Naval Ensigns[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag 1947-1950 Indian Naval Ensign Same as White Ensign, used when India was still a dominion of UK.
Template:ListFlag 1950-2001 Indian Naval Ensign A red cross on a white field,with the Indian national flag in the canton.
Template:ListFlag 2001–2004 Indian Naval Ensign A blue-colored crest of the Indian Navy set upon a white background, with the Flag of India placed in the canton.
Template:ListFlag 2004–2014 Indian Naval Ensign A red cross on a white field, with the Indian state emblem in yellow at the center, with the Indian national flag in the canton.
Template:ListFlag 2014–2022 Indian Naval Ensign A red cross on a white field, with the Indian state emblem in yellow at the center with the motto Satyamev Jayate below, and the Indian national flag in the canton.
Template:ListFlag 2022-present Indian Naval Ensign A white ensign, featuring the Flag of India in the canton, and a navy blue filled, gold-bordered octagon, enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy, located in the fly.

President's Colour[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag 1951-2022 President's Colour Indian Naval ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
Template:ListFlag 2022-present President's Colour Indian Naval ensign with State Emblem of India.

Indian Air Force[edit]

Current rank flags (1980-present)[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Indian Air Force A sky-blue ensign with the flag of India in the canton, and the Air Force roundel in the fly.[3]
Template:ListFlag President's Colour of the Indian Air Force Air Force ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Sky blue flag with the badge of the IAF in the center, and 5 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly. Only one person has ever been granted the right to this flag.[4]
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Air Chief Marshal (rank currently reserved for the Chief of Air Staff) Sky blue flag with the national flag in the canton, the IAF roundel in the lower fly, and the IAF badge in the upper fly.[5]
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Air Marshal (also Vice Chief of the Air Staff) Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 3 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Air Vice Marshal Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 2 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Air Commodore Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 1 five-pointed gold star in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Group Captain Flag of Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Wing Commander Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center.

Former rank flags (1950-1980)[edit]

The former IAF rank flags were modeled on those of the Royal Air Force, with different colours.[6]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Marshal of the Indian Air Force Never used.[7]
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force Sky blue bordered with two thick golden yellow stripes and with two thick horizontal green stripes in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thick horizontal green stripe in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with two thin horizontal green stripes in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force Swallowtail sky blue pennant bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thin horizontal green stripe in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Group Captain of the Indian Air Force Triangular sky blue pennant bordered in golden yellow, with one thick horizontal green stripe in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force Triangular sky blue pennant bordered in golden yellow, with two thin horizontal green stripes in the center.
Template:ListFlag 1950–1980 Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thin horizontal green stripe in the center surmounted by an eagle in green. Below the stripe is the squadron number.

Coast Guard[edit]

Flag Date Use Description
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Indian Coast Guard A Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard A Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly.
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Deputy Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
Template:ListFlag Flag of the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Indian Army Flags".
  2. ↑ "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - Rank Flags". Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "Indian Air Force Flags".
  4. ↑ "Indian Air Force Flags".
  5. ↑ "Indian Air Force Flags".
  6. ↑ "Indian Air Force Flags".
  7. ↑ "Indian Air Force Flags".

External links[edit]

Template:Military ranks by country

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