During the last Army Commanders Conference, it was decided to adopt uniform changes beginning August 1. Officers with the rank of Brigadier and higher, comprising Major Generals, Lieutenant Generals, and Generals, will now wear uniform articles that are standardised and independent of regimental or corps affiliation. The new uniform will have matching berets (hats), rank insignia, a common belt buckle, and a common shoe style. Notably, they will no longer wear regimental lanyards or shoulder flashes identifying specific associations such as Special Forces, Arunachal Scouts, Dogra Scouts, and so on. As a result, there will be no visual aspect identifying them as belonging to a specific Regiment or Corps. Officers in these higher ranks will all wear uniforms.Image: TwitterWhat is the existing system of wearing uniformsOfficers from Lieutenant to General presently wear extra uniform elements based on their regimental or corps affiliations. Infantry and Military Intelligence officers, for example, wear dark green berets, whereas Armoured Corps officers wear black, and Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Air Defence, EME, ASC, AOC, AMC, and several minor corps officers use dark blue berets. Officers of the Parachute Regiment wear maroon berets, whereas officers in the Army Aviation Corps use grey berets.There are also variances in formal headgear. While infantry regiments, Armoured Corps regiments, and other arms and services wear peak hats with regimental emblems, officers of the Gorkha Rifles, Kumaon Regiment, Garhwal Regiment, and Naga Regiment wear a slouch hat, known informally as the Terai Hat or Gorkha Hat.Image: TwitterEach Infantry Regiment and Corps has its distinctive lanyard pattern, which is traditionally worn over the shoulder and tucked into the right or left shirt pocket. Rank badges differ as well, with rifle regiments having black badges and other regiments using gilt and silver-coloured badges. Different coloured backings are worn with these badges in accordance with the Regiment or Corpss specific traditions and customs. Uniform buttons differ as well, with rifle regiments wearing black buttons and Brigade of The Guard officers wearing golden buttons.The belt buckles vary according to regimental customs, and each bears its unique crest. In the Army, most officers regimental affiliation terminates at the rank of Colonel. To avoid developing regimental bias among higher levels, all uniform associations with a particular Regiment or Corps must likewise end at that rank.Back to the decades-old systemGiven that higher-ranking jobs frequently include commanding troops from different regimental lineages, senior officers heading these forces should wear a neutral uniform rather than a regimental one. In fact, the Army is returning to a practice that was introduced nearly 40 years ago when adjustments to the wearing of regimental affiliations were implemented.Until the mid-1980s, regimental duty was limited to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Colonels and above wore uniforms with standardised patterns and insignia. Colonels and Brigadiers wore the Ashoka emblem instead of regimental insignia on their cap badges. The beret was khaki in colour. However, in the mid-1980s, the command of a Battalion or Regiment was promoted to the rank of Colonel, resulting in Colonels once again donning regimental insignia. Brigadiers were also entitled to wear the cap emblem of General officers, which consists of a crossed sword and baton with an oak leaf wreath. The British Army, from which the Indian Army derives its uniform pattern and heraldry, refers to the uniform worn by officers of Colonel rank and above as the Staff uniform, distinguishing it from the Regiment.
