New Delhi, June 15: A major revision in the military dress code has eliminated several long-standing British customs to give the armed forces a distinct national character. The comprehensive 174-page operational guide marks the first complete revision of uniform standards in nearly a decade, focusing heavily on replacing foreign institutional habits with local alternatives.
Under the new directives, reviewing officers are formally barred from carrying a sword while conducting inspections during ceremonial parades. The regulatory document asserts that sword carriage will henceforth be restricted to parade commanders and actively participating contingents during primary state events such as Army Day, Independence Day, and Republic Day celebrations.
The institutional changes also include a strict ban on archaic vocabulary inherited from the colonial era. The military administration noted that terms such as “Royal” have been permanently dropped from official reference files and publications.
To offer suitable local alternatives for official gatherings, the guidelines introduce the closed-neck Bandi jacket as an authorized variant for officers during civilian formal events. The style is meant to be worn over a long-sleeved shirt alongside formal trousers and matching closed footwear to blend administrative decorum with traditional design.
Adjutant General Lt Gen VPS Kaushik declared in the guide’s introductory text that the new publication serves as a calculated measure to harmonize dress guidelines with modern national values. Representatives from the defense wing affirmed that these refinements represent a progressive evaluation of residual colonial-era vestiges while preserving the dignity, functionality, and enduring traditions of the army.
