Indian Navy's new ensign unveiled: What it signifies

The new ensign or 'Nishaan' of the Indian Navy unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday does away with remnants of the colonial past and reflect's India's rich maritime heritage. It's inspired by the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The white background of the new ensign has the the national flag on the canton, or the top inner quarter. The outer half features a blue octagon, in which the national emblem is placed atop an anchor, which is superimposed on a shield with the navy's motto 'Sam no Varunah,' in Devnagari script.

The octagonal shape depicts the eight directions, and symbolises the multi-directional reach and multidirectional operational capability of the Indian Navy. The anchor depicts steadfastness


"The octagonal shape with twin golden borders draws inspiration from the seal of the great Indian emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet," the Navy said in video release.

With this, the Indian Navy does away with the existing ensign -a white flag with horizontal and vertical red stripes, with the Emblem of India emblazoned at the intersection of the two stripes. The horizontal and vertical red stripes, symbolised the Cross of Saint George, the national flag of England.

After a formal gazette notification, all naval establishments will now switch to the new ensign.

The Cross of Saint George was in the naval ensign since 1928, except between 2001 and 2004, when it was replaced with a blue Indian Navy crest.