Navy To Replace "Colonial" Flag, PM To Unveil New Ensign

The current ensign features a prominent cross of Saint George, the national flag of England and a legacy from India's colonial past.

India will unfurl a new naval flag that retires a British colonial symbol to mark the formal debut of the country's first locally built aircraft carrier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office said.

The current ensign features a prominent cross of Saint George, the national flag of England and a legacy from India's nine decades as a crown dependency, which ended with independence in 1947.

PM Modi will reveal the new design Friday in Kerala at the commissioning of the Vikrant, which his office touted as "a significant step" for military self-reliance.

"During the event, the PM will also unveil the new naval ensign, doing away with the colonial past and befitting the rich Indian maritime heritage," his office said in a statement on Tuesday.