IAF Chief unveils new Ensign as the force marks 91st anniversary

Subject: Schemes

Section: Defence

Context:

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Vivek Ram Chaudhari unveiled a new Ensign for the force, as it marked its 91st anniversary, by the inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign, towards the fly side.
This year, the Air Force Day (8 October) parade was held at Air Force Station Bamrauli in Prayagraj.
Theme for this year’s Air Force Day was ‘IAF – Air Power Beyond Boundaries’.

New Ensign:

Earlier, the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) Ensign comprised of the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (Red, White & Blue) on the fly side.
Post-Independence, the IAF ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tricolor and the Royal Air Force roundels with the IAF tricolore roundel.
A new lAF ensign has now been created to better reflect the values of the Force.
Details of the new ensign:
- The IAF Crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top with the words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ in Devanagari below it.
- Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF.
- A ring in light blue color encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena’ and the motto of the IAF is inscribed below Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
Last September, the Indian Navy too had adopted a new naval ensign as part of measures to move to do away with colonial practices.

IAF’s first woman officer:

This is the first Air Force Day Parade to be commanded by a woman officer, GP Capt. Shaliza Dhami.
She is also the first woman officer of the IAF to command a combat unit.
For the first time, the parade had an all women contingent composed of the newly inducted Agniveer Vayu women.
The parade also included a flight of Garud Commandos of the IAF for the first time, as they recently completed 20 years of service.

Source: TH