On September 02, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the new ensign of the Indian Navy in Kochi to mark the launch of India's first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The ensign is the national flag displayed on ships and aircraft, often with a special insignia of a branch or unit of the armed forces.
There was a long standing demand for a change in the Navy's flag. Basic suggestions for change were given by Vice Admiral V.E.C. Barboza who had retired from the Navy as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command.
The current flag is essentially the successor to the pre-independence flag of the Indian Navy, which had the Red George Cross on a white background with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom on the upper left corner.
After independence, on August 15, 1947, the Indian Defense Forces continued with the British colonial flag and badge and on January 26, 1950, its appearance/design was changed.
The naval crest and flag were replaced, but the only difference in the flag was that the Union Jack emblem was replaced by the tricolor and the Red George Cross was continued.
Current ensign of Indian Navy
In the upper left corner (canton) of the current flag is the St George's Cross with the tricolor.
Navy flag changes
The Navy flag was changed in 2001 when the Red George Cross was replaced by a naval crest in the center of the white flag, while retaining the tricolor at the top left corner.
Also in the year 2004, the flag was again changed to Red George Cross as the blue color of the naval crest in the new flag seemed to reflect both the sky and the sea.
A new change was made to the flag and the Lion of the Ashoka Pillar was now included as the emblem in the center of the Red George Cross. Another change was made in the year 2014, when the word 'Satyameva Jayate' was inscribed on the flag under the Ashoka Pillar in Devanagari script.
