Indian police to do away with khaki for swanky new uniforms

Cops across the country are set to shed their British-era khaki to make way for ‘cool’ and smart weather-compliant khaki uniforms. 

The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), a department under the Union Home Ministry to work on subjects related to policing, is conducting a special ‘sartorial’ improvement project to devise a better ‘khaki’ for police men and women so that they feel comfortable while out on field. 

This will be a reprieve for policemen out on duty under the scorching sun or pouring rain.

 

 

Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design (NID), after five years of research, has come up with a new all-weather, visually appealing 'smart uniform' which will be standardised across all states, Union Territories and central paramilitary forces.

“We are looking at creating a weather-compliant uniform for the police personnel. We are consulting some specialist organisations in this regard. Once some part of it is finalised, we will be contacting various state governments to adopt the new ones as police is a state subject. Similar changes in the texture of the central police forces will also be done,” BPRD Additional Director General Parvez Hayat told PTI.

He added the bureau has tied up NID and experts to scientifically choose the texture of the cloth for the ‘khaki’ uniform and also suggest some new designs.

Inputs were gathered from nine states about the problems with the present uniform. The change of shades, thick fabric and non-uniformity across the country has been cited as causes of inconvenience by the police force. The berets/caps worn by cops are smart but made of wool, causing headaches and hairfall, while helmets are too heavy to wear during law and order situations. The metal belts are too wide and poke the stomach when a cop bends.

With the current material, a trooper working in icy heights like that of Kargil, he said, the texture and cloth material of his combat uniform would be different from his colleague who is working in the plains or a hot-weather area. 

The new uniforms can also easily accommodate their essential gadgets like a walkie-talkie, baton, whistle, handcuffs and other accoutrements while on work.