President’s Standard and President’s Colours Awarded

March 9, 2024

On March 8, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu, the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, presented the prestigious President’s Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron, and the President’s Colours to 11 Base Repair Depot (BRD) and 509 Signal Unit (SU) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Air Force Station Hindan, Uttar Pradesh. This historic event marked the first time in IAF history that four units were awarded the President’s Standard and Colours together in a single ceremony.

Highest Military Honour

The award of the President’s Standard and Colours is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit, recognizing the exceptional service rendered by the unit to the nation, both during war and in peace. The President’s Standard is awarded after 18 years of service, while the President’s Colours are awarded after 25 years of service.

Units Honored

The units honored during the ceremony included:

No. 45 ‘Flying Daggers‘: The first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) squadron of the IAF.
No. 221 Squadron ‘Valiants’: Flew almost one-third of all offensive missions during the 1999 Kargil conflict.
11 Base Repair Depot (BRD)
509 Signal Unit (SU)

The President’s Standard was received by Group Captain M Surendran (45 Squadron) and Group Captain Shubhankan (221 Squadron), while the President’s Colours were received by Air Commodore Ashutosh Vaidya (11 BRD) and Group Captain Vivek Sharma (509 SU).

IAF’s Contributions

Speaking on the occasion, the President praised the contribution of the Indian Air Force in protecting the country, emphasizing the courage, dedication, and self-sacrifice shown by Air Warriors in the wars of 1948, 1965, 1971, and 1999. She also commended their role in relief and rescue work during disasters in the country and abroad, stating that the devotion to duty and determination displayed by the brave airmen serve as a source of inspiration for all citizens.

The President noted that in the rapidly changing era, security requirements and priorities are also evolving quickly. She expressed satisfaction that the IAF has been adopting modern technology over the past few years, recognizing the increasing importance of technology in the defence sector.

The President also acknowledged the IAF’s important contributions to the ongoing space programs of the country and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission, noting that the four astronauts selected for the mission are IAF officers.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, President Murmu congratulated the women personnel of the IAF and expressed happiness that women officers are provided with equal opportunities in every branch of the IAF, enabling greater career advancement.

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