President’s Colour Award

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Context

• The 3rd Battalion of the Naga Regiment (3 Naga) got the President’s Colour Award.

President's Colour Award

About

• The President's Colour Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon any military unit of India.

Other name

• It is also known as Nishaan, which is an emblem that is worn by all unit officers on the left-hand sleeve of their uniform.

Colour

• ‘Colour’ symbolises the collective spirit of the battalion, and “its acts of valour forged in sweat and blood”

History

• The tradition began under colonial rule.
• On 23 November 1950, the ‘king’s colour’ of the erstwhile British Indian regiments was laid to rest in the Chetwode Hall, Dehradun, to make way for the ‘colours’ of the President of the Republic of India.

Presentation

• The colours are presented by the President or, on her/his behalf, by the Chief of the Army Staff.

Recognition

• The presentation of the award or standards by the President of India is an acknowledgement of the unit's meritorious service.

New Rule

• While the practice of carrying the Colour into battle has stopped, the tradition of receiving, holding and parading the Colour continues even today in the Armed forces.

Significance

• To this day, the President's Colours are very significant, if the unit lose its colours, it is a disgrace for that unit and, if the unit captures the enemy's colours then it is a great honour for that unit.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements: 1.The President's Colour Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit of India. 2.It is a disgrace for that unit if the unit captures the enemy's colours. 3.The practice of carrying the Colour into battle is a mandatory one. How many of the above statements are correct? A) Only 1 B) Only 2 C) All 3 D) None Answer: A) Only 1 Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.