During the Indo-Sino war in 1962, the Indian army had to fight the Chinese military in the most challenging conditions.
The high peaks of Ladakh and at the North Eastern Frontier Agency, which is Arunachal Pradesh now.
The militants had a tough time battling effectively in their uniforms for several reasons.
Until this time, the military uniforms were made using cotton and cotton fiber jerseys.
This was the beginning of changes in the Indian military uniforms.
Indian Army gets a new Combat Uniform
Every year since 1949, January 15th is celebrated as Army Day.
This is to remember the occasion when General KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949, and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India.
During the Indian Army Day celebrations this year, on Saturday, a new combat uniform was unveiled by Army Chief Gen M M Naravane.
The new combat uniform of the Indian Army was unveiled at the ‘Army Day’ parade, today. pic.twitter.com/2d1u8FwV9v
— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2022
What is new in the latest Indian army combat uniform?
The new Indian army combat uniform is designed by a team of 12 people at the National Institute of Fashion Technology.
The team includes seven professors, three students, and two alumni.
The uniform is designed with a continuous consultative process with the Army.
It was done keeping in mind the “4Cs” – comfort, climate, camouflage, and confidentiality.
What are the Key Features of the new Indian army combat Uniform?
- The new uniform has an informal look, as the shirt is not tucked in.
- An additional black round neck t-shirt is worn under the uniform
- The uniform design is inspired by other armies, especially the US army.
- It is comfortable for all-terrain combat with a 70:30 cotton-poly composition.
- The design is digitally printed with four different shades.
- This design was finalized after analyzing more than four types of fabrics and as many as eight designs and fifteen patterns.
A brief history on the evolution of army uniform
- British East India Company instituted three different combat uniforms for three presidencies. The Bengal presidency had a partly red uniform with colored trimming and embroidery, the Bombay presidency had a grey uniform and the yellow uniform was for the Madras presidency.
- A formal uniform was eventually allotted to the three presidencies after 1857 when the presidencies devolved to the British Crown.
- The division of the Indian army into Indian and Pakistan armies after the Independence in 1947, the Indian army retained olive green as its base color.
- Cotton uniforms and cotton fiber jerseys were replaced after the 1962 war in order to better equip for high altitude warfare.
- After the Siachen glacier face-off in 1984, Indian units in the glacier were introduced to Austrian alpine clothing and climbing equipment.
- In order to have a better-inbuilt element of camouflage, the Indian army replaced the old cotton olive green combat dress with a disruptive pattern battle dress.
- Receives full update in 2022 January as explained.
Uniform components and style
- The uniform has three components. A black round neck t-shirt, trousers, and shirt.
- The shirt is not tucked in, unlike its previous versions. It has angular top pockets, lower pockets with vertical openings, knife pleats at the back, a pocket on the left sleeve, a pen holder on the left forearm, and improved-quality buttons.
- The trousers have an elastic waist and buttons and a double layer at the groin.
- A modified version of the uniform is also developed for the lady officers and troops of the army.
“Not all the uniforms of the military are changing.”
The uniforms will be available to personnel in a phased manner as the Army will issue tenders for private and public companies to manufacture the uniforms.
It will be distributed in a phased manner.
What do you think about this new uniform? Could it have been better to use any other material? Write down below.
For camouflage-print fabrics, contact us.