The blue ensign of the Star of India was used from 1879–1892 as the naval ensign of Her Majesty's Indian Marine (1879–1892). It was then used by the Royal Indian Marine (1892–1934), subsequently upgraded to the Royal Indian Navy (1934–1950). The white ensign of the Royal Navy (RN) was used from 1928–1950 as the naval ensign of the Royal Indian Marine and then the Royal Indian Navy (RIN).
Following the reconstitution of the Royal Indian Marine as a combatant force in 1928, the White Ensign - the naval ensign of the RN, was adopted, and was subsequently raised for the first time on 11 November 1928.[2]
Pre-1947
Colonial-era flags
Period
Ensign
Jack
1879–1884
1884–1928
1928–1947
Independence-era ensigns
1947–2001
Following India's emergence as an independent nation on 15 August 1947, the RIN continued the use of the White Ensign as its preferred choice, until 26 January 1950, when the country formally became a republic.[3] Correspondingly thereafter, the RIN was re-christened the Indian Navy (IN), while the service's crest and flags were duly changed to India-centric configurations.[4] However, the White Ensign, featuring the St. George's Cross over a white field, was retained, with the replacement of the Union Jack with the Flag of India being the only alteration.[5]
Following the ensign's institution, a commissioning pendant and naval rank flags were also introduced.[3] Based on the rank flags of the Royal Navy, the new rank flags of the IN also exhibited the St. George's Cross, albeit with the Ashoka Chakra, a Dharmachakra (Wheel of Law), a national symbol, in the intersection of the cross, as an extra addition.[3] In line with naval tradition of the former service, each rank flag bore a display of red balls in the flag's quadrant, representing the naval officer's rank - zero balls for the Chief of the Naval Staff (an admiral by rank), one ball for vice admirals, two balls for rear admirals and again one ball for commodores.[6][7] In addition to these measures, a presidential standard, based on the modified ensign was also introduced, featuring a gold-colored elephant in the fly, symbolising strength and courage, as an added feature.[3]
Originally, the ensign was made in a proportional ratio of 1:2, but by the 1980s, it had been altered to 2:3, while the presidential standard was made in 4:5 proportions.[3]
By the early 1970s, amidst decolonization, the desire for the introduction of a new ensign bereft of any colonial-era identity became very strong within the ranks of the IN.[5] The impulse for a new, domestic-centric ensign was further amplified by the examples of Australia and New Zealand, which abolished the St. George's Cross from their respective naval ensigns in 1967 and 1968, respectively.[8] However, the original idea for a post-colonial ensign is generally credited to Vice Admiral V.E.C. Barboza, a former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, who suggested the change around the same period.[5]
Consequently, the Union Government, then led by the National Democratic Alliance, chaired by Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee, changed the naval ensign in 2001, to a newer design featuring a blue-colored crest of the IN set upon a white background, with the Flag of India placed in the canton.[5] The change, derived from the objective of simplicity and the necessity to maintain commonality with the flags of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, was approved by the President of India on 30 April 2001, and came into effect on 15 August 2001.[5]
The naval rank flags, which too had portrayed the St. George's Cross, were changed to a newer pattern, based on the ensign.[3] The new rank flags depicted the blue-colored naval crest at the hoist, while rank-specific stars were placed at the fly - four for the Chief of the Naval Staff, three for vice admirals, two for rear admirals and one for commodores.[6] A five-star rank flag was also created separately as an honorary measure for the position of fleet admiral; however, the rank has never been never conferred to this day.[3] The proportion of the ensign, and the rank flags had 2:3 proportions, while the commodore's broad pennant and the Senior Officer's pennant had 1:2 proportions.[3] Irrespective of the changes, the national flag continued to serve as the naval jack, while the Indian Blue Ensign, meant for the naval reserve, remained untouched.[3]
Nevertheless, the new ensign was a troubled and unpopular change, as many complained that the blue of the naval crest was indistinguishable from the sky and the ocean, when viewed from afar.[9] Ultimately, in 2004, after three years in service, the IN retired the use of the altered ensign, reverting to the use of its former one.[10] Following the decision of its impending replacement, the altered ensign and its corresponding flags were subsequently flown for the final time on 24 April 2004.[11]
Flag
Jack
Ensign
Commissioning pennant
Pattern
Rank
Admiral of the fleet
Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral
Commodore
Senior Officer
Pattern
2004–2022
In the wake of the troubled use of the altered ensign and its subsequent discontinuation, the Vajpayee-government reintroduced a modified variant of the former naval ensign, on 25 April 2004.[12][13] The new, modified version bore the St. George's Cross, albeit with an additional touch-up of the State Emblem of India at the intersection, as an added feature.[9] The proportions of the ensign was reverted to the ratio of 1:2, while the original rank flags were restored, except for the pennant of the Senior Officer, which was redesigned to match the other rank flags.[3]
In 2014, the ensign was further customized to feature the Indian national motto in the Devanagari script: सत्यमेव जयते (Satyameva Jayate), translated in English as "Truth Alone Triumphs", beneath the State Emblem.[14] The updated ensign was accorded presidential approval in July 2014 and was formally adopted on 15 August 2014.[14] The ensign remained in active use until 1 September 2022, when the Indian Navy announced that its design would be revised in a favor of a new, domestic-centric one.[15]
In August 2022, the Prime Minister's Office announced that the naval ensign featuring the St. George's Cross would be irrevocably disposed of, in favor of a newer design that would "do away with the colonial past" and befit the "rich Indian maritime heritage".[16] The revised ensign, which happened to be its fourth alteration since 1950, was unveiled for the first time by prime minister Narendra Modi on 2 September, at the commissioning ceremony of aircraft carrierINS Vikrant.[17] Prior to its unveiling, the ensign's revised design, along with the patterns of its distinguishing rank flags, car flags and masthead pennant was accorded presidential approval.[15]
In continuity with the versions introduced after the country's independence, the current ensign features the national flag of India in the canton on a white field. It includes a navy blue-gold octagon in the fly.[18] The octagon is an emulation of a rajmudra (imperial seal) formerly used by Shivaji I - a 17th-century Maratha warrior emperor, who was instrumental in establishing the Maratha Navy, one of the first Indian-origin naval forces of the modern era.[19]
The octagon is furnished with two golden borders and a navy blue background, encompassing the naval crest of the IN - highlighting the State Emblem, mounted atop an anchor superimposed on a naval shield.[18] However, the ensign's crest featured a clear anchor, depicting steadfastness, as opposed to the IN's officially-used crest, which featured a fouled anchor; this disparity was rectified in December 2022 when the IN changed the official-use crest to match the one featured on the naval ensign.[18][20]
Below the shield, the octagon also features a golden-bordered ribbon bearing the navy's motto in the Devanagari script: शं नो वरुणः (Śhaṁ No Varunaḥ), translated in English as "May the Lord of Water be auspicious unto us".[18] The current ensign bears similarity to the design of the version in service between 2001 and 2004, given both designs have similar portrayals of the naval crest, with the only difference being of the current ensign's display of the navy blue-gold coloured octagon.[6] Additionally, the octagonal shape also represents the eight directions: four cardinal and four inter-cardinal, symbolizing the multidirectional reach and multidimensional operational capability of the IN.[18]
In December 2022, three months after the introduction of the new ensign, PresidentDroupadi Murmu approved the creation of two more naval flags - a Presidential Standard and a Presidential Colour, as honorary acknowledgements to static and mobile naval formations respectively, for distinguished and meritorious service.[20] Both the Presidential Standard and the Presidential Color retain the design of the naval ensign, with the only addition being that of the State Emblem which is placed in the upper fly above the naval crest.[20] The first unit of the IN to bestowed with the new President's Colour was INS Dronacharya, which was conferred with the honour by Murmu on 16 March 2023.[21]
The national flag of Sweden consists of a yellow or gold Nordic cross on a field of light blue. The Nordic cross design traditionally represents Christianity. The design and colours of the Swedish flag are believed to have been inspired by the present coat of arms of Sweden of 1442, which is blue divided quarterly by a cross pattée of gold. Blue and yellow have been used as Swedish colours at least since Magnus III's royal coat of arms of 1275.
The national flag of Romania is a tricolour featuring three equal vertical bands colored blue, yellow and red, with a width to length ratio of 2:3.
The national flag of Greece, popularly referred to as the "turquoise and white one" or the "azure and white", is officially recognised by Greece as one of its national symbols and has 5 equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The blazon of the flag is Azure, four bars Argent; on a canton of the field a Greek cross throughout of the second. The official flag ratio is 2:3. The shade of blue used in the flag has varied throughout its history, from light blue to dark blue, the latter being increasingly used since the late 1960s. It was officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus on 13 January 1822.
In British maritime law and custom, an ensign is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton, with either a red, white or blue field, dependent on whether the vessel is civilian, naval, or in a special category. These are known as the red, white, and blue ensigns respectively.
The several branches of the United States Armed Forces are represented by flags. Within the U.S. military, various flags fly on various occasions, and on various ships, bases, camps, and military academies.
The Blue Ensign is a British ensign that may be used on vessels by certain authorised yacht clubs, Royal Research Ships and British merchant vessels whose master holds a commission in the Royal Naval Reserve or has otherwise been issued a warrant. Defaced versions with a badge or other emblem are used more broadly; in the United Kingdom by authorised government or private bodies; and internationally by nations or organisations previously a part of the British Empire.
A maritime flag is a flag designated for use on ships, boats, and other watercraft. Naval flags are considered important at sea and the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced. The flag flown is related to the country of registration: so much so that the word "flag" is often used symbolically as a metonym for "country of registration".
The White Ensign, at one time called the St George's Ensign because of the simultaneous existence of a crossless version of the flag, is an ensign worn on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field, identical to the flag of England except with the Union Flag in the upper canton.
The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, commands the navy. As a blue-water navy, it operates significantly in the Persian Gulf Region, the Horn of Africa, the Strait of Malacca, and routinely conducts anti-piracy operations and partners with other navies in the region. It also conducts routine two to three month-long deployments in the South and East China seas as well as in the western Mediterranean sea simultaneously.
The commissioning pennant is a pennant flown from the masthead of a warship. The history of flying a commissioning pennant dates back to the days of chivalry with their trail pendants being flown from the mastheads of ships they commanded. Today, the commissioning pennants are hoisted on the day of commissioning and not struck until they are decommissioned. Some navies have a custom of flying a "paying off" or "decommissioning pennant," the length of which often reflects the length of service of the warship.
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards, flags, or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also made battle standards reading SPQR a part of their vast armies. It was formalized in the armies of Europe in the High Middle Ages, with standards being emblazoned with the commander's coat of arms.
The Indian Navy (IN), the naval component of the Indian Armed Forces follows a certain hierarchy of rank designations and insignia derived from the erstwhile Royal Indian Navy (RIN).
The Australian Defence Force Ensign is a flag of Australia which represents the tri-service Australian Defence Force. The design was formally recognised by the Australian Government as a flag of Australia with an amendment to the Flags Act 1953 passed on 14 April 2000.
The flags of British India were varied, and the British Empire used several different banners during the period of its rule in the Indian subcontinent. Flags incorporating the Star of India emblem in their design are often referred to as the Star of India flag, and were used to represent India itself and high offices in the British Raj. The Royal Indian Navy also flew a blue jack flag bearing the Star of India. The East India Company, which ruled India prior to 1858, used a flag featuring the Union Jack with red and white stripes.
The Canadian Naval Ensign is the flag worn at the stern or at the gaff of His Majesty's Canadian Ships. The ensign is also the flag of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and is used on land in this capacity.
The flag of the Qing dynasty was an emblem adopted in the late 19th century (1889) featuring the Azure Dragon on a plain yellow field with the red flaming pearl in the upper left corner. It became the first national flag of China and is usually referred to as the "Yellow Dragon Flag".
Admiral is a four-star naval flag officer rank in the Indian Navy. It is the highest active rank in the Indian Navy. Admiral ranks above the three-star rank of vice admiral and below the five-star rank of admiral of the fleet, which has never been awarded or held.
Vice admiral is a three-star flag officer rank in the Indian Navy. It is the second-highest active rank in the Indian Navy. Vice admiral ranks above the two-star rank of rear admiral and below the four-star rank of admiral, which is held by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
Rear admiral is a two-star flag officer rank in the Indian Navy. It is the third-highest active rank in the Indian Navy. Rear admiral ranks above the one-star rank of commodore and below the three-star rank of vice admiral.
↑ "Indian Navy to change its ensign". archive.ph. 24 April 2004. Archived from the original on 10 April 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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