President's Colour to be awarded to Naval Academy on Nov 20

President Ram Nath Kovind will award the Presidents Colour to the Indian Naval Academy at a function at the Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kannur on November 20.

The Presidents Colour is the highest honour that is bestowed upon a military unit, a defence press release said here on Sunday.

Before the country became a republic, the military custom was to parade the Kings Colours a regimental flag - on special ceremonial occasions.

On February 27, 1951, the Commander in Chief of the Indian Navy, Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Parry had written to the Defence Minister that "it would be a privilege of which the service would be extremely proud, if the President would honour the Indian Navy by presenting it, a special flag which would be paraded on important occasions in a ceremonial parade."