From Headgears To Shoulder Rank Badges, Indian Army To Commonize Dress Code From August 1

Indian Army is set to introduce a new uniform dress regulation for a senior officer, in which Generals from the Gorkha Rifles will no longer wear their trademark headgear, their counterparts from specific armoured regiments will not don brown shoes and the Special Forces brass will bid adieu to the famous maroon beret.

Indian army launches new rules for dress codes

Last year, after introducing a new combat dress for all soldiers, the Indian army has now decided to adopt a common uniform for officers of the rank of brigadier and above to bolster a common identity and approach in service matters among the senior leadership, officials familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

As new regulation will commence from August 1, the senior officers will no longer be allowed to wear accoutrements specific to their respective arms and services, said one of the officials, asking not to be named.

These officers include major generals, lieutenant generals, and the army chief.

‘From headgear to shoulder ranks’

According to another official, from headgear to shoulder rank badges and gorget patches (collar tabs) to belts and shoes, the uniform of the senior officers will be standardised and common.

The decision has been taken during the Army Commanders’ Conference, chaired by army chief General Manoj Pande in April, after extensive consultations with all stakeholders. The key focus is to make everyone common and standard.

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Main purpose of common dress code

Speaking to the media, the first official said, the common uniform will not reveal the regimental or service affiliation of the senior officers.

These officers have already commanded units and are mostly posted at headquarters and establishments where officers from all arms and services work and function together, he said. “A standard uniform will ensure a common identity for all senior officers while reflecting the true ethos of the army.”

The current uniforms of the senior officers vary with their regimental and service affiliations. For instance, officers from armoured corps wear black berets, those from infantry and mechanised infantry wear caps that are different shades of green and gunners sport blue caps. Officers from the Corps of Military Police thus far wore red berets. The senior officers will wear dark green berets now, the officials said.

There will be no change in the uniforms worn by colonels and below.