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Several news reports say that India is again removing the St George Cross
(officially defined as intersecting vertical and horizontal stripes, not a
cross) from its naval ensign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to be
going to unveil the new ensign at the commissioning of INS Vikrant, the first
locally built aircraft carrier.
This is in line with the BJP-led
government's emphasis on moving on from the nation's colonial past, just like in
the similar change in 2001 under a previous BJP-led government. This change was
effectively reversed by the next government, citing visibility concerns
regarding the mostly white flag with blue badge in the fly. Presumably the new
version will feature a more visible badge, and it remains to be seen whether
alternative governments see this change as something to support.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pm-modi-to-unveil-new-ensign-of-indian-navy-why-is-it-important-122083100268_1.html
https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/explained-how-indias-new-naval-ensign-is-an-attempt-to-shed-its-colonial-past-11150641.html
Jonathan Dixon, 31 August 2022
From
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/chhatrapati-shivaji-maharajs-rajmudra-depiction-replaces-st-georges-cross-on-indian-navys-new-flag-details-article-93941308:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's rajmudra depiction replaces St George's cross on
Indian Navy's new flag - Details
Interestingly, the golden border of the
octagon represents the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary
16th century Maratha warrior, whose vision to establish a swarajya extended
beyond the land borders of his empire and dominated the seas through his forts
such as the Sindhudurg, Janjira and others
Zachary Harden, 2
September 2022
Note: there is contradictory information regarding the position of the stars.
https://assets.thehansindia.com shows the stars near the hoist, while
https://indiapressrelease.com and
https://alumni.indiannavy.gov.in show the stars near the fly.
The images
below follow the latter pattern, in conformity with the rest of the Indian Armed
Forces in displaying stars near the fly of the rank flags.)
Miles Li,
10 October 2023
image by Miles Li, 10 October 2023
image by Miles Li, 10 October 2023
image by Miles Li, 10 October 2023
image by Miles Li, 10 October 2023
image by Miles Li, 10 October 2023
The size and position of the badge are speculative on the Senior Offier
pennant, based on the assumption that it follows the position of the Chakra on
the 2004 Series Rank Flags.
Miles Li, 10 October 2023