Explained: New Indian Navy Ensign to be unveiled; Another stride towards decolonisation? Know details

Indian Navy Ensign: Indian Navy, the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces, is all set to get a new ensign that will "do away with the colonial past". Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the new ensign of the Indian Navy during the commissioning of the country's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier — INS Vikrant on September 2 at 9:30 AM, the PMO said on Tuesday. 
 

History: Indian Navy in colonial period

The Indian Navy's origin goes back to the colonial period.

On October 2, 1934, the naval service was renamed Royal Indian Navy (RIN), with its headquarters at Bombay (now Mumbai), according to the information shared on a website of the Indian Navy.

With the partition of India, post-independence, the Royal Indian Navy was divided into the Royal Indian Navy and the Royal Pakistan Navy.

With India becoming a Republic on January 26, 1950, the prefix 'Royal' was dropped and it was rechristened as the Indian Navy.
 

Has the Indian Navy ensign ever changed in the past?

The current ensign of the Navy is a white flag with horizontal and vertical red stripes, with the Emblem of India emblazoned at the intersection of the two stripes. The tricolour is placed in the canton.

The Union Jack was replaced with the tricolour after Independence in 1947, in the canton.

On 26 January 1950, the Crown in the naval crest, depicted with an anchor, was replaced by Ashokan Lion for the Indian Navy's Emblem.

The invocation to Lord Varuna (The Sea God) in the Vedas was adopted by it for its emblem, with the motto: "Sam no Varunah", meaning: 'Be auspicious unto us Oh Varuna'. The inscription of 'Satyamev Jayate' below the State Emblem was included in the crest.
 

What is Saint George Cross?

The horizontal and vertical red stripes symbolises the Cross of Saint George in the Indian Navy ensign. It is  reminiscent of the colonial era, and is likely to be dropped in the design incorporated for the new ensign.
 

Significance of September 2

India's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier — INS Vikrant — will be commissioned on this day. INS Vikrant will contribute in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean region, Vice Chief of Indian Navy Vice Admiral S N Ghormade had said on August 25, ahead of the commissioning of the warship which is built at a cost of around Rs 20,000 crore. The aircraft carrier was built at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.  PM Modi will unveil the new naval ensign i.e. Nishaan on the same day.

(With PTI inputs)