Ceremonial uniforms Indian Army Ceremonial Dress (No.2) wearing
No.2 Summer ceremonial dress as the Honor Guard The
Indian Army No. 2 Ceremonial Dress (Summer) is worn by officers or PBORs during parades and formal state functions. It features the following elements: •
Olive green tunic and trousers • It is the standard for the Indian Army's ceremonial uniforms. •
Scarlet Turban • Turbans are authorised to be worn only by
Sikh personnel. •
Medals • Full-sized medal(s) to be displayed on the left chest, signifying honours and awards. •
Sam Browne Belt • It is a distinctive cross belt worn by commissioned officers. •
Sword • Carried during formal parades or state functions such as passing out parades of
IMA or state visits of Presidents of foreign nations. •
White gloves • It is the standard for ceremonial protocol. •
Lanyard • It usually indicates regimental affiliation or corps.
Military Police Ceremonial uniform The ceremonial uniform of the Indian Army Armoured Corps, is distinct from the regular ceremonial uniform; it is worn by personnel from cavalry and tank regiments during state functions, parades and other formal ceremonies. •
Tunics and Trousers • Varies by regiment, often
royal blue, bottle green,
grey, scarlet etc. This style is derived from the
British Indian Army, representing pre-independence cavalry uniforms. •
Headgear • Distinct pagris or plumed headgear with elaborate regiment patterns and colours. •
Sashes and Belts • Multi-stripped silk cummerbands and waistbands, unique to each regiment. •
Shoulder Insignia • Metallic or chain-mail shoulder pieces, ornate and traditional •
Shoes • Jodhpurs with long black riding boots or puttees •
Weapons • Lances and ceremonial swords, linked to mounted cavalry traditions.
Service Uniforms General Duty Winter Dress (No. 3 Dress – Officers) The
Indian Army No. 3 General Duty Winter Dress is a formal uniform worn by officers for day-to-day official duties, inspections, and semi-formal functions during the winter season. It features the following elements: •
Material • The uniform is made of
Terry-wool, providing warmth and durability in colder weather. •
Colour •
Dark Green OCM shade No. 1, which is the standard winter shade for Indian Army uniforms. •
Jacket (Blazer) • Design: Single-breasted, cut like a lounge coat with a back seam. It is loose at the chest and shoulders, fitted at the waist, and cut straight in the front. • Collars: Stiff collars with a depth of about 8 cm. •
Pockets • Two breast plain-patch pockets – 13 cm wide and 16 cm deep, with pointed flaps (14 cm long, 3 cm depth on the sides, and 6 cm at the centre). • Two lower side pockets – 18 cm wide and 20 cm deep, with slanting flaps (20 cm long and 7 cm wide) featuring a 2 cm backward slant. •
Sleeves: • Crown of the sleeve is 16 cm at the centre and 8 cm at the sides, with a pointed finish. •
Front Buttons: • Four large-sized regimental or general officers' pattern buttons (diameter 2.5 cm) placed vertically in front. •
Shoulder Straps: • Made from the same material as the jacket, fastened with a small regimental or general officers' pattern button (diameter 1.2 cm). •
Buttons on Cuffs (General Officer Ranks) The number of small buttons (diameter 1.2 cm) on the cuffs indicates rank for general officers: • It was in use since about 2008 until phased replacement began around 2022. • Known as the “disruptive pattern combat uniform” (DPCU), adopting camouflage suited to a variety of terrains.
Material & Fabric • It had heavyweight / thicker fabric, sometimes described as “denim-like” in thickness and weight, making it less comfortable in hot and humid conditions. • Cotton-polyester blend; not as breathable or quick drying as the newer version.
Camouflage / Pattern • Disruptive pattern: not digital/pixelated. Organic or blotchy pattern of olive green, brown, and other earth tones. • Readily reproducible / more easily available in the market and imitators/copies. Because of that, the newer uniform sought to restrict unregulated copies.
Design / Style • The shirt had to be tucked into trousers. • No standard combat T-shirt under it as part of the official uniform (or not formalised as in the new uniform). • Pockets, buttons, and belt style were simpler / less ergonomic. The trousers did not have waist adjustment features like elastic/buttons seen in newer uniforms.
Usage & Phasing Out • The old uniform remained in active use while new designs were trialled and rolled out. • Deadline to exhaust old uniform stock was extended to June 2026 from the original mid-2025.
Combat Disruptive Dress (New) The new uniform has been designed in collaboration with the
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), after the Indian Army supplied specifications.
Material & Fabric • The fabric is lighter, more breathable, yet sturdy and durable. • It is quick-drying, better suited for humid or extreme climatic conditions. • The cotton:polyester ratio is approximately 70:30. • The new weave is stronger against tearing compared to the old uniform.
Camouflage pattern The camouflage is now a digital, disruptive/pixelated type, rather than older organic/disruptive prints. The pattern was specially created; among ~15 pattern options and multiple fabrics, one was selected after trials. The colours include olive green, earthen shades, suitable for multi-terrain deployment — deserts, mountains, jungles etc.
Design / Style Changes Source: • The shirt no longer needs to be tucked into the trousers. • A T-shirt is worn underneath the shirt. • Jackets (shirts) have: angular top pockets; lower pockets with vertical openings; a pocket on the left sleeve; a pen holder on the left forearm; and knife pleats at the back. • Trousers have waist adjustability via elastic and buttons; double layer in the groin area. • Caps or headgear have adjustable girths; better quality logo.
Sizes, Distribution & Miscellaneous The uniform is available in 13 standard sizes. Women’s versions have also been designed with gender-specific modifications. The new uniform is not to be available in the open market; it will only be issued through proper military/ordnance/canteen channels. The design and camouflage pattern now have
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) registered by the Indian Army.
Snow Camouflage Uniform Snow Camouflage Uniform, also referred to as
Himkavach dress by the Indian Army, is a combat dress designed to withstand the extreme sub-zero cold temperatures at
Siachen Glacier,
Ladakh, and in the state of
Sikkim, where military personnel are deployed year-round. This dress was developed in coordination with
Defence Research and Development Organisation, and its working range is reported to be from 20 & nbsp °C to -60 & nbsp °C (68 & nbsp °F to -76 & nbsp °F). This uniform is an overgarment worn over a standard combat or cold-weather uniform, especially in snow-bound terrain. It is mostly white or light in colour, to camouflage with the snowy terrain, sometimes with a reversible or internal white lining. It is part of the
Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS), designed for high altitude deployments, along
Line of Actual Control and
Line of Control. The uniform allows layering, breathability, mobility and integrates with other snow gear (boots, gloves, goggles), which is crucial for deployment in such extreme regions, with low atmospheric oxygen and pressure, as low as 42% of available oxygen at sea level, and atmospheric pressure as low as 0.425
atm or 322.5
mmHg.
Mess dresses Mess Dress (Winter) – Dress No. 5 (Officers Only) The
Indian Army Mess Dress Winter, also known as
Green/Blue Patrol, is a formal evening uniform worn exclusively by officers for mess functions, state events, and other official formal occasions.
Specifications •
Material: Serge (high-quality woolen fabric). •
Colours: Dark blue or dark green, depending on the regiment or corps pattern.
Patrol Jacket • Broad back cut with two curved seams and two side slits (15 cm) for comfort. • Five medium-sized regimental or general officer pattern buttons (diameter 1.5 cm) on the front, spaced 2–3 cm below the collar fastening. • Two breast plain patch pockets, each 14 cm wide × 15 cm deep with pointed flaps (13 cm × 6 cm), secured by press buttons and small buttons. • Sleeves have pointed cuffs, 6 cm deep at the back and 14 cm deep at the front. • Stand-up stiff collar, maximum height of 5 cm, fastened with hooks and eyes. • Epaulettes and pocket flaps fastened by small buttons (diameter 1.2 cm).
Buttons on Cuffs by Rank Footwear • Black socks and black leather brogue shoes. • Officers of mounted arms (e.g., Armoured Corps, ASC, RVC, mechanised units) may wear Wellingtons (high boots). • Box spurs are authorised for field rank officers and above when wearing Wellingtons.
Shirt • White terry-cloth full-sleeved shirt without collar or pocket. • Soft front with single semi-stiff cuffs.
Trousers • Same material as the patrol jacket. • Regimental or corps-coloured stripes along side seams (width: 4 cm). • Side pockets opening width: 10 cm. • Buttons provided for braces. • Plain cut with the bottom shaped from instep to heel. • Length sufficient to cover the heel when standing.
Accessories & Insignia • Regimental or corps pattern side cap or black turban (for Sikh officers). • Colonels and above wear triple-plaited slip-on cords or chains with badges of rank through jacket loops. • Gorget patches for Colonels and above. • Miniature medals only (full-sized medals not worn). • Name tab, aiguillettes, and pouch belts were authorised. • COAS/Army commendation badges.
Occasions for Wearing • State functions at
Lok Bhavan or
Rashtrapati Bhavan. • Receptions hosted by the: •
President of India •
Prime Minister •
The Governors of States •
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) •
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) •
Chief of Air Staff (CAS) •
Army Commanders (GOC-in-C) • Diplomatic receptions involving foreign missions. • Dining-in and Dining-out ceremonies at officers' messes. • Retreat and Reveille ceremonies.
Equivalent Service Dress Codes Additional Notes • Lanyards, insignias, and formation signs are
not worn with this dress. • Only miniature medals are displayed. • The dress is worn strictly
between retreat and reveille.
Flight suit (Dungarees) Personnel of the
Army Aviation Corps are authorized to wear dungarees, which are regularly worn by army helicopter pilots, as the army does not operate other types of aircraft like those in the
Indian Naval Air Arm or the
IAF.
Key Features • The “Dungaree” is a one-piece suit (jump-suit / overall) worn by piloting and aircrew personnel of the Army Aviation Corps. • It is designed for mobility, quick donning/doffing, and comfort during flying, making tasks easier in cockpit/aircraft environments. • Winter Dungaree: In colder conditions, a light brown or tan jacket is worn over the dungaree for extra warmth. • The dungarees do not require belts or standard trousers + shirt/pant combos because the one-piece is self-contained. This reduces complexity and improves safety in flying operations. • Attachments like name, dress ranks, regimental / corps insignia are placed on the dungarees.
Mobility & safety It is designed for quick movement and less loose material that could snap. == President's Bodyguard ==