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| President's Colour Award | |
|---|---|
 Former President, Shri Ramnath Kovind presenting the prestigious President's Colours to all five Ladakh Scouts Battalions and Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, at Leh on August 21, 2017 | |
| Type | Military, police decoration |
| Description | Highest Military Honour, awarded to military unit. |
| Country |  India |
| Presented by | President of India |
| Eligibility | Minimum 25 years of service |
| Established | 27 May 1951 |
| First awarded | 27 May 1951[1] |
The President's Colour Award is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit of India.[2][3] 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.
The 'Standards' are awarded to Heavy Cavalry and the 'Guidons' are awarded to Light Cavalry.
- ^ "President's Colour awarded to Indian Naval Academy - Awarding the President's Colour". The Economic Times.
- ^ "President's Colour Awarded to Indian Naval Academy". India: Indian Naval Academy. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Indian Naval Academy awarded President's Colour". The Hindu. India. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2020.