Indian Army Issues New Dress Code Removing Colonial Symbols

The Indian Army has issued a comprehensive new dress code manual that removes several colonial-era vestiges from its uniform regulations and introduces indigenous elements, part of a broader institutional push to align military traditions with India's sovereign identity. The changes, detailed in the newly released Army Uniforms Pamphlet 2026, include the introduction of the Bandi jacket for formal civil attire and the removal of items like pouch belts and the mandatory carriage of swords by reviewing officers.

A key symbolic change is the discontinuation of archaic terminology such as "Royal." The manual explicitly frames the reforms as a "deliberate move away from residual colonial-era symbols and terminology," aimed at aligning dress regulations with "contemporary Indian ethos." The Bandi jacket, a closed-neck coat, is now authorized as part of formal civil attire for officers, to be worn over a full-sleeved shirt with trousers.

The regulations also significantly narrow the occasions for carrying swords. Swords will now be carried only by parade commanders, contingent commanders, and designated personnel during major ceremonial events like Republic Day, Independence Day, and...