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Indian Army Flags

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Discussion on the use of the national flag as a war flag

by Zeljko Heimer

I am not sure about the military flag on land - I would guess that the national flag is used, but I have not found the confirmation for that. However, Smith (1982) (and others) show for the war flag purpose the red flag with three golden lions and swords in saltire. However, I think this is the Army flag, and not the national flag for use by the military on land (although in some countries this difference is not easy to determine, and sometimes is very vague and possibly not clearly legislated). I would guess that in India, since the two are so different it should not be so difficult to decide. The war flag is the one that is hoisted daily on military installations (barracks) and that one to which the pledge is given. And in India, I think, it is the tricolour.
Zeljko Heimer, 15 January 2002

I believe Zeljko is correct in this - the Indian Army is the world's chief repository for the maintenance of old British Army traditions--probably more so than the British Army itself. British Army garrisons hoist the union jack on their flagpoles; it would be very surprising if Indian Army garrisons hoisted a flag other than the national tricolor under the same circumstances. In fact, the Indian Army uses the tricolour as the equivalent of the union jack in all other circumstances of which I am aware, including as the national colour (equivalent of queen's colour) of infantry regiments and to cover the bodies of soldiers killed in action.
Joe McMillan, 16 January 2002

Das (1981), Traditions and Customs of the Indian Armed Forces has a wealth of information on colors, rank flags, and so on, including, on page 50, that the national flag of India is flown only on the following army installations:
- Forts
- Establishments of the Army Ordnance Corps, Defence Inspectorate Organisation, and Defence Research and Development Organisation
- Posts along the border
- Headquarters of prisoner of war camps
- Field medical units (along with the Red Cross flag)
- Recruiting offices
- The National Defence College, Defence Services Staff College, National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, and Armed Forces Medical College.
Joe McMillan, 16 January 2002

Otherwise, the army normally flies the flag of the headquarters, formation, or other unit at the headquarters building and the