Air Chief Marshal, VR Chaudhari, the Indian Air Force chief, on Sunday unveiled the Air Force's new ensign at Bamrauli airbase in Prayagraj on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of its establishment. The Air Force had earlier displayed an air show of its fighter jets in Bhopal to mark the occasion. This is the first time in 72 years such an exercise was undertaken by the IAF.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the IAF said; "A momentous day in the annals of #IAFHistory. On the sidelines of the Annual Air Force Day Parade conducted today morning, the CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari unveiled the new #IAF ensign."
According to a release by the Ministry of Defence, the new IAF ensign has been created to better reflect the values of the Indian Air Force. This reaffirmation will now be reflected by the inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign, towards the fly side, the statement added.
The IAF Crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top with the words “सत्यमेव जयते” in Devanagari below it. There is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF. "A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “भारतीय वायु सेना” The motto of the IAF "नभः स्पृशं दीप्तम्" is inscribed below Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari," it read.
The IAF motto has been taken from verse 24, Chapter 11 of the Bhagavad Gita and means "Radiant Thou Touchest Heaven" or in other words "Touching the sky with Glory".
Meanwhile, speaking at the event in Prayagraj, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, emphasised the need to “remain relevant” with changing geopolitical dynamics, and urged the force to reform and not turn into a relic. Chaudhari said, the IAF must become one of the best forces in the world by 2047 as the country is poised to become a developed country by 2047.
"If India is on the path to become a developed nation by 2047, then IAF must be one of the best, if not the best, by the time we complete 100 years in 2032. The vision, as laid down in our doctrine, is to be an agile and adaptable air force that provides decisive aerospace power in furtherance of our national interests," the IAF chief said.
He added: "In order to make our vision a reality, we must all play our respective parts diligently. We must reform, or become a relic. We must innovate, else become mundane and we must transform, else become irrelevant."
The previous RIAF Ensign comprised of the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (Red, White & Blue) on the fly side. Post WWII, the Indian Air Force was bestowed with the prefix "Royal" in March 1945. So, it became the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF).
Later, post-independence (in 1950), the IAF ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tricolour and "Royal" prefix was dropped.