Guwahati, June 15: The Indian Army’s newly issued Army Uniforms-2026 manual marks one of the most significant overhauls of military dress regulations in nearly eight years, introducing the traditional Indian Bandi jacket and removing several colonial-era customs, symbols and terminology.
The 174-page manual seeks to modernise military attire while aligning ceremonial traditions and formal dress regulations with India’s evolving national identity.
Under the revised regulations, officers are authorised to wear a closed-neck Bandi jacket over a full-sleeved shirt with matching formal trousers and closed footwear during specified formal occasions. The move introduces a distinctly Indian element into the Army’s formal dress code while preserving the discipline and dignity associated with military attire.
The reforms extend beyond clothing. The Army has made the carriage of swords by Reviewing Officers optional, removed ceremonial pouch belts from select dress categories and discontinued archaic terminology such as “Royal” that had remained embedded in traditions inherited from the British era.
According to the Army, the changes form part of a broader effort to align military traditions with contemporary Indian ethos and strengthen indigenous identity within the force.
For many observers, the adoption of the Bandi jacket represents more than a change in appearance. It reflects a wider effort across Indian institutions to reassess inherited colonial practices and replace them with symbols rooted in Indian culture and heritage.
In the Northeast, where generations of families have served in the armed forces, the changes are likely to resonate beyond military circles, symbolising a blend of tradition, modernisation and national identity.
Also Read: Bihar Assembly’s Subordinate Legislation Committee studies Meghalaya’s Legislative practices
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
