Presidents’s Color Award | UPSC Current Affairs

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Context: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah presented the 'President's Colour' to the Haryana Police in Karnal, Haryana

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About:

The President's Colour Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit of India.
It is also known as ′Nishaan′ which is an emblem that is worn by all unit officers on the left-hand sleeve of their uniform.
The presentation of the award or standards by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India (President of India) is an acknowledgement of the unit's meritorious service.
While the practice of carrying the Colour into battle has stopped, the tradition of receiving, holding and parading the Colour continues even today in the Armed forces.
To this day, the President's Colours is very significant, if the unit lose their colours, it is a disgrace for that unit and, if the unit captured the enemy's colours then it is a great honour for that unit.

History:

When any ancient militaries marched, they always carried the King's flag, or 'dhwaja', to proclaim the King's sovereignty. Moreover, it was considered a shame if any army lost its dhwaja to the enemy.
On the other hand, capturing another army's flag was a matter of pride, honour and an occasion of victory.
The tradition continued even during colonial rule. When the British Army moved across India, the regiment always carried its version of the King or Queen's flag.
All the King's Colours or Flags that had been handed to the Royal Indian Army, the Royal Indian Navy, the Royal Indian Air Force, and their respective commands were "laid up" at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, a day before India became Republic on January 26, 1950.
All the versions of the King or Queen's flags were laid to rest in the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. Matter Of Utmost Pride And Honour After independence, the flags were renamed "President of the Republic of India's Colours".
The Indian Navy was the first Indian military establishment to receive the President’s colours from Dr Rajendra Prasad.
Even now, the President's Colours is the highest military honour that could be awarded to any military unit, military training establishment and state or Union Territory's Police Forces of India.
It is bestowed upon in recognition of exceptional service of at least 25 years rendered by a military unit to the nation, both during war and peace. It is also known as "Rashtrapati ka Nishaan" in Hindi.
The 'Standards' are awarded to Heavy Cavalry and the 'Guidons' are awarded to Light Cavalry.