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Indian Armed Forces rank flags

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(Redirected from Indian Armed forces rank flags) Rank flags used by the Indian Armed Forces. 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 (2)
Reserve forces
2,096,000 (5)
Paramilitary forces and CAPF
1,585,950 (6)
Components
 Indian Army
 Indian Navy
 Indian Air Force
 Indian Coast Guard
Border Roads Organisation
Paramilitary forces of India
Central Armed Police Forces
Strategic Nuclear Command
History
Military history of India
Ranks and insignia
Army • Navy • Air Force • Coast Guard • BRO • Paramilitary forces and CAPF

The Indian Armed Forces follow the UK/Commonwealth ranking system, and their general and flag officers use rank flags.

Equivalent ranks and insignia of Indian Armed Forces.
Equivalent ranks of Indian military
Indian Navy Indian Army Indian Air Force
Commissioned ranks
Admiral of
the fleet		 Field marshal Marshal of
the Indian Air Force
Admiral General Air chief marshal
Vice admiral Lieutenant general Air marshal
Rear admiral Major general Air vice marshal
Commodore Brigadier Air commodore
Captain Colonel Group captain
Commander Lieutenant colonel Wing commander
Lieutenant commander Major Squadron leader
Lieutenant Captain Flight lieutenant
Sub lieutenant Lieutenant Flying officer
Junior commissioned ranks
Master chief
petty officer
1st class		 Subedar major Master warrant officer
Master chief
petty officer
2nd class		 Subedar Warrant officer
Chief
petty officer		 Naib subedar Junior warrant officer
Non-commissioned ranks
Petty officer Havildar/Daffadar Sergeant
Leading seaman Naik/Lance daffadar Corporal
Seaman 1 Lance naik/
Acting Lance-Daffadar		 Leading aircraftsman
Seaman 2 Sepoy/Sowar Aircraftsman
Footnotes
  1. Risaldar major in cavalry and armoured regiments
  2. Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments
  3. Naib risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments.
    Called jemadar until 1965.

Indian Armed Forces

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Indian Armed Forces A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre.
Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem.
Flag of the Integrated Defence Staff A red field with the flag of India in the canton, There is insignia of two cross swords, an eagle, an anchor and an Ashok symbol above it

Indian Army

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Indian Army A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly.
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.
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.
Flag of the General
Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Flag of the Lieutenant General
Flag of the Principal Staff Officer
Flag of the Major General
Flag of the Brigadier

Indian Navy

Current rank flags (2022–present)

Flag Date Use Description
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.
Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy A white triangular pennant with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the hoist.
President's Colour of the Indian Navy Indian Naval ensign with State Emblem of India.
Flag of the Admiral (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Naval Staff) A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and four blue stars in the hoist side.
Flag of the Vice admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff) A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and three blue stars in the hoist side.
Flag of the Rear admiral A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and two blue stars in the hoist side.
Flag of the Commodore A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and one blue star in the hoist side.

Former rank flags (1950–2001; 2004–2022)

Flag Date Use Description
1950–2001 Indian Naval Ensign A red cross on a white field, with the Indian national flag in the canton.
2004–2014 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.
2014–2022 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.
1951–2022 President's Colour Indian Naval ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
Commissioning pennant A white triangular pennant with at hoist the St. George's red cross defaced with the Ashoka Chakra.
Flag of the Admiral (was only used by Chief of the Naval Staff)
Flag of the Vice Admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff)
Flag of the Rear Admiral
Flag of the Commodore
Flag of the Senior officer

Former rank flags (2001–2004)

Flag Date Use Description
2001–2004 Flag of the Indian Navy A blue-colored crest of the Indian Navy set upon a white background, with the flag of India placed in the canton.
2001–2004 Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy
2001–2004 Flag of Admiral of the Fleet of the Indian Navy Never used.
2001–2004 Flag of Admiral of the Indian Navy
2001–2004 Flag of Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy
2001–2004 Flag of Rear Admiral of the Indian Navy
2001–2004 Flag of Commodore of the Indian Navy
2001–2004 Flag of Senior Officer of the Indian Navy

Indian Air Force

Current rank flags (1980–present)

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Indian Air Force A sky-blue ensign with the flag of India in the canton, the Air Force roundel in the lower fly, and the IAF badge in the upper fly.
President's Colour of the Indian Air Force Air Force ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
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.
Flag of the Air Chief Marshal (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Air Staff) Sky blue flag with the national flag in the canton, the IAF roundel in the lower fly, the IAF badge in the upper fly, and 5 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly.
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.
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.
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.
Flag of the Group Captain Flag of Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle.
Flag of the Wing Commander Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center.

Former rank flags (till 2023)

Flag Date Use Description
1950–2023 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.
1980–2023 Flag of the Air Chief Marshal (was only used by Chief of the 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.

Former rank flags (1950–1980)

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

Flag Date Use Description
1950–1980 Marshal of the Indian Air Force Never used.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Indian Coast Guard

Flag Date Use Description
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.
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.
Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
Flag of the Deputy Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
Flag of the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard

See also

References

  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".
  8. "Indian Air Force Flags".
  9. "Indian Air Force Flags".

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