Indian Armed Forces | ||||||
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Military Manpower | ||||||
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Components | ||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Paramilitary forces of India Central Armed Police Forces Strategic Nuclear Command |
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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.
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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Flag of the Indian Armed Forces | A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre. | |
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Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff | A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem. | |
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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 |
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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Flag of the Indian Army | A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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Flag of the General | ||
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Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff | ||
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Flag of the Lieutenant General | ||
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Flag of the Principal Staff Officer | ||
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Flag of the Major General | ||
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Flag of the Brigadier |
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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President's Colour of the Indian Navy | Indian Naval ensign with State Emblem of India. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. |
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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1950-2001 | Indian Naval Ensign | A red cross on a white field, with the Indian national flag in the canton. |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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1951-2022 | President's Colour | Indian Naval ensign with Presidential Standard elephant. |
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Commissioning pennant | A white triangular pennant with at hoist the St. George's red cross defaced with the Ashoka Chakra. | |
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Flag of the Admiral (was only used by Chief of the Naval Staff) | ||
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Flag of the Vice Admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff) | ||
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Flag of the Rear Admiral | ||
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Flag of the Commodore | ||
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Flag of the Senior officer |
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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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. | |
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President's Colour of the Indian Air Force | Air Force ensign with Presidential Standard elephant. | |
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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. | |
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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.. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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Flag of the Group Captain | Flag of Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle. | |
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Flag of the Wing Commander | Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center. |
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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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. |
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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. |
The former IAF rank flags were modeled on those of the Royal Air Force, with different colours.
Flag | Date | Use | Description |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard | ||
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Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard | ||
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Flag of the Deputy Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard | ||
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Flag of the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard |
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Leadership |
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Organisation |
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Personnel | |||||||||||||||
Operations |
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Equipment |
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Other topics | |||||||||||||||