One Nation, One Police Uniform

Security Issues Security Agencies

30-Oct-22

Context: Addressing the first Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) of state home ministers and top police officers, Prime Minister of India pitched the idea of “One Nation, One Uniform” for Indian police forces.

He made it clear that he is not imposing the idea of a single uniform for police forces across the country and only wanted states to give it a thought.

About the concept

Prime Minister’s suggestion “One Nation, One Uniform” is in line with his broader attempt to introduce a uniform set of policies across the country.
The Indian Constitution puts police forces under the jurisdiction of state governments, and each state have their own police force.
Both ‘public order’ and the ‘police’ are placed in List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with the division of powers between the Union and States.

Issue of Uniforms

While police personnel in India are often associated with the colour khaki, their uniforms do differ in varying degrees in different regions.

Since state governments and even an individual force can decide the uniform their personnel wear, there are at times inconsistencies in their official attire. For example:

The Kolkata Police wear white uniforms.
Puducherry Police constables wear a bright red cap with their khaki uniforms.
Delhi Traffic Police personnel wear white and blue uniforms.

Changes in police uniforms

Over the years, police departments of various states have made various attempts to reform uniforms for their personnel.
In February 2018, in a bid to prevent colour variation in the uniform of its personnel, the Maharashtra police had decided to provide dope-dyed khaki fabric for its staff.
In October 2018, the Karnataka Police announced that women personnel would no longer wear khaki saris, rather a khaki shirt and trousers while on duty.
The Maharashtra DGP issued a circular discontinuing the practice of wearing a “tunic uniform” for officers from the rank of Police Sub Inspectors (PSI) to Deputy Superintendent (DySP).
A tunic uniform is a British-era overcoat worn over the traditional uniform by the police force.