Indian Armed Forces rank flags

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.

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

Indian Armed Forces

Flag	Date	Use	Description
File:Indian Armed Forces.svg		Flag of the Indian Armed Forces	A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre.
File:Flag of Chief of Defence Staff (India).svg		Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff	A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem.
File:Flag of Integrated Defence Staff.svg		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
File:Flag of Indian Army.svg		Flag of the Indian Army	A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly.
File:Flag of Field Marshal.jpg		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.
File:Flag COAS.svg		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.
File:Flag of Indian Generals.svg		Flag of the General
File:Flag of Indian Vice Chief of Army Staff.svg		Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
File:Flag of Indian Lieutenant Generals, Army Headquarters.svg		Flag of the Lieutenant General
File:Flag of Indian Principal Staff Officers.svg		Flag of the Principal Staff Officer
File:Flag of Major General.png		Flag of the Major General
File:Flag of Brigadier.png		Flag of the Brigadier

Indian Navy

Current rank flags (2022–present)

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

Former rank flags (2001–2004)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
File:Naval Ensign of India (2001–2004).svg	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.
File:COMMISSIONING PENNANT (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy
File:ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Admiral of the Fleet of the Indian Navy	Never used.
File:ADMIRAL (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Admiral of the Indian Navy
File:VICE-ADMIRAL (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy
File:REAR-ADMIRAL (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Rear Admiral of the Indian Navy
File:COMMODORE (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Commodore of the Indian Navy
File:SENIOR OFFICER (INDIA).gif	2001–2004	Flag of Senior Officer of the Indian Navy

Indian Air Force

Current rank flags (1980–present)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
File:Air Force Ensign of India (2023).svg		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.
File:President's Colour of Indian Air Forces.svg		President's Colour of the Indian Air Force	Air Force ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
File:Flag of the Marshal of the Air Force (India).svg		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.
File:Flag of the Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force.svg		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.
File:Flag of Air marshal (India).svg		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.
File:Flag of Air vice marshal (India).svg		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.
File:Flag of Air commodore (India).svg		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.
File:Flag of Group Captain (India).svg		Flag of the Group Captain	Flag of Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle.
File:Flag of Wing Commander (India).svg		Flag of the Wing Commander	Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center.

Former rank flags (till 2023)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
File:Ensign of the Indian Air Force.svg	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.
File:Flag of the Chief of Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force.svg	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
File:Flag of Indian Marshal of the Air Forces 1950-1980.svg	1950–1980	Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Never used.
File:Flag of Indian Air Chief Marshal 1950-1980.svg	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.
File:Flag of Indian Air Marshal 1950-1980.png	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.
File:Flag of Indian Air Vice Marshal 1950-1980.svg	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.
File:Flag of Indian Air Commodore 1950-1980.svg	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.
File:Flag of Indian Group Captain 1950-1980.svg	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.
File:Flag of Indian Wing Captain 1950-1980.svg	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.
File:Flag of Indian Squadron Leader.svg	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
File:Indian Coast Guard flag.svg		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.
File:Indian Coast Guard flag.svg		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.
File:Flag of Additional Director General.jpg		Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
File:Flag of Inspector General.jpg		Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
File:Flag of Deputy Inspector General.jpg		Flag of the Deputy Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
File:Flag of Commandant.png		Flag of the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard

See also

• Armed Forces Flag Day
• Indian Naval Ensign
• List of Indian flags
• Flag of India

External links

• Indian Military Flags - CRW flags
• MILITARY & NAVAL FLAGS - War Flags