New Delhi: The Indian Navy got a new Naval Ensign (Nishaan) Friday. It was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kochi during the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant.
India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was also commissioned on Friday. The ship was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi. The commissioning of INS Vikrant has included India among the list of nations that can manufacture ships under this category. It will also give a boost to India’s attempts to become a self-reliant nation.
A statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office said the new ensign would do “away with the colonial past… befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage”.
The current ensign of the Navy is a white flag with horizontal and vertical red stripes, symbolizing the Cross of Saint George, with the emblem of India superimposed on the intersection. The tricolor is placed in the upper canton next to the staff.
This is the fourth time since 1950 that the Naval Ensign would undergo a change.
On 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the Navy Crest and flags were duly ‘Indianized’. However, the ensign and distinguishing flags retained a touch of the British legacy — the Red St. George’s Cross – though the Union flag was replaced by the tricolor.
With effect from 15 August 2001, the design of the ensign was changed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and the Cross made its way out of the Indian Navy crest.
In 2014, the ensign as well as the naval crest was updated to include the national motto “Satyameva Jayate” in the Devanagari script.
