In over 60 years, India changed the rules for Indian flags flown on its ships at sea. On November 9, the ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued a renewed order dated February 9, 1961. The revised Rules have been notified in terms of Section 37(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
The government clarified that whatever action taken under the previous notification will continue to be valid on the coming into play of the new ones.
The 2025 Merchant Shipping Act amended earlier will introduce the Red Ensign. The flag will have a red background with the Indian National Flag in the upper canton of the flag, that is, the corner which is closest to the flagstaff.
With the help of the Flag code of India, 2002, the length of the Red Ensign will be 1.5 time greater than its breadth.
The Blue Ensign is to be flown by government owned vessels, whether registered under the Merchant Shipping Act or not. The ships will carry their own department, authority or organisation’s motto, or badge.
The new rule would not apply to the Indian naval ships and Indian coast guard ships.
The question has also been covered on how to use official badges on the Blue ensign and how they are to be arranged. All new badges will have to be approved by Central government before being issued; applications will be made through the Director General of Maritime Administration.
Under the new rules, organisations using officially recognised badges will be able to keep on using them.