In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Egypt some about 5,000 years ago.

On 27 February 1951, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Sir Edward Parry, wrote to the defence minister Baldev Singh: "As you know that India became a Republic, Naval Custom was to parade the King's Colours ashore on the special ceremonial occasions.

It would be a privilege of which the service would be extremely proud if the President of India would honour the Indian Navy by presenting to it a special flag which would be paraded on important occasions in the same manner as the King's Colours used to be."

In the years that followed, as the Navy grew in size and the function, President's Colours were presented to the Naval Commands and the Fleets.

The President's Colours/Standard/Guidon is one of the greatest honours bestowed upon in recognition of exceptional service rendered by it to the nation, both during war and peace.

In the center, the heraldic badge and distinctive unit insignia of the reporting regiment is stationed, surrounded by wreaths in which the battalion motto can be seen.

Some battle honours of the regiments of line, light and rifle infantry, granted prior to independence to units for battles or campaigns in India against the local rulers or nationalist forces, have been declared as 'repugnant' and are not celebrated or held in esteem, and as in the case of the President's Colours, are not displayed.

It was the Indian Navy that was the first branch of the Armed Forces to receive the President's Colour in May 1951, one year after India became a republic of the Commonwealth.

Unlike the RN Ensign the old design was unique that it has a golden elephant, symbol of the nation, on the bottom left side of the colour.

It as always been in white and fringed in gold, with the national flag on the canton with the St. George's Cross, symbolizing the roots of the Navy in the Royal Indian Marine, with the State Emblem of India at the center, in gold, under which, written in Devanagari script, is the national motto Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs).

[5] It retains much the design of the 2001-04 ensign and the gold fringe, but instead of the arms of that emblem, its feature on the fly is a octagonal navy blue shield—the official new heraldic emblem of the force—based on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's's royal seal surrounding the heraldic arms in gold, which also corrects a long omission from that ensign as well—the addition of, in Devanagari, the official motto of the Navy—May the Lord of Waters Be Auspicious Unto Us (Shaṁ No Varunaḥ).

All Indian Air Force air combat and combat support formations carry the President's Standard, which is in sky blue with the squadron or helicopter unit heraldic arms with the recognized battle honours given to these formations similar to those of the Army.

The President of India, the ceremony's guest of honour, arrives as the parade renders a full National Salute as the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana is played by the band and a 21-gun salute is fired (occasionally by the Indian Army Regiment of Artillery).

Afterwards, the Nishaan is consecrated by military chaplains of religions represented in the Armed Forces (Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity and Islam).

Then, the President's Colour is received by an officer designated as Nishan Adhikari on behalf of the military or police unit (in question) during the parade by the President or any other designated person on behalf of him or her, who serves as the unit ensign (holding rank of lieutenant in the Army, sublieutenant in the Navy and flying officer in the Air Force).

(If in the Navy, the Colour is dipped in the President's presence while marching past, and is recovered after passing the grandstand).

With this portion being complete, the President or delegated reviewing officer will briefly address the regiment of which he/she presented the colours to, which will be concluded with the speaker expressing confidence in the unit, before that the unit commander makes his address of gratitude thanking the reviewing officer for their words and for their presence in the ceremony.

The responsibility of being the guest of honour in his or her absence is prerogative of the Services Chiefs[6] and as such, a General Salute is performed as the band plays appropriate music.