The Indian Navy on Friday unveiled the new design of the Admirals’ Epaulettes, an ornamental shoulder piece worn to show the rank of an officer.
New designs of Admiral’s Epaulettes:
- The new epaulettes, to be worn by the navy chief, vice admirals and rear admirals from January 1, have five modifications over the previous ones.
- A new design is drawn from the Naval Ensign and inspired from Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, reflecting India’s rich maritime heritage.
Golden Button:
- The golden navy button on the epaulettes would no longer feature the foul anchor with the nautical rope, associated with the colonial era.
- The design was changed to a clear anchor, in line with the modification of navy crest in 2022.
- It depicts steadfastness of the Indian Navy to deter any challenge in the maritime domain, and represents clarity in vision, mission and aspirations of its sailors.
Shivaji’s Seal:
- Indian navy removed the Crown-inspired red background on which the national emblem sits and replaced it with an octagon derived from the Maratha king’s rajmudra.
- Rajmudra is an authentic stamp or the Royal Seal that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used in his letters and ordinance.
- The octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision, showcasing Shivaji’s naval power.
- The navy’s new ensign replaced the colonial St George’s cross during the commissioning of India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Kochi in 2022.
Indian Sword:
- The generic sword has been replaced by a straight double-edged sword of Indian origin-Khanda used by Rajput warriors.
- Indian sword emphasises the essence of Navy’s Raison d’etre, cutting edge of national power, win wars through dominance, defeat adversaries and overcome every challenge.
Telescope:
- The baton, a symbol of authority, has given way to the Indian telescope symbolising long-term vision, foresight and weather-eye in an ever-changing world.
Stars:
- The style of stars was changed for increasing the aesthetic appeal.
- The navy chief dons four stars as an admiral, vice admirals wear three and rear admirals don two stars.
Ref: Source
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