Section 42 in The Naval Ceremonial, Conditions Of Service And Miscellaneous Regulations, 1964
42. To Foreign Distinguished Personages and Authorities.
- In the case of salutes from Indian Naval Ships, forts, and batteries to foreign distinguished personages and other functionaries, the following arrangement entered into with the maritime powers shall be observed namely:(1)Salutes not returned. - Salutes from ships of war which will not bereturned:-(a)To Presidents of Republics, Royal personages, Chiefs of States or members of Royal families, whether on arrival at, or departure from, a port, or upon visiting ships of war.(b)To diplomatic, Army, Air Force, or consular authorities, when visiting ships of war.(c)To foreigners on visiting ships of war.(d)Upon occasions of national festivals or anniversaries.(e)To naval officer on occasions of visits to ships of war as provided under Regulation 33.Explanation. - By this sub-regulation Indian Naval Ships will not return a personal salute to an Indian officer fired by foreign vessels; nor will such return salute be expected by the officers of a power which adheres strictly to the international arrangement. If, however, on any occasion where personal salutes are exchanged, a personal salute, fired by one of Indian Naval Ships or by the ships of some third nation to a foreign officer, is returned, it is an excess of courts which it would be impossible not to reciprocate by returning any personal salute to an Indian officer fired immediately afterwards the conditions. Indian Naval ships may even take the initiative in returning personal salutes, if such is known to be the custom of the nation whose ship has saluted, and if it is expected that a personal salute to an officer of that nation will presently have to be fired and will be returned.(2)Salutes returned. - Salutes from ships of war which will be returned gun for gun(a)To the national flag on anchoring at a foreign port, except in the circumstances detailed in sub-regulation (2) of Regulation 12.(b)To the flags or broad pendants of foreign Flag Offii sirs and Commodores or Captains Command ranking as Commodores when met with at sea or in harbour.(3)Reciprocity with Foreign Ships.-When foreign ships of war salutes the Indian National Flag or other personages, or any of India's functionaries in similar circumstances, the same rules shall be reciprocally observed by Indian Naval Ships present as to returning or not returning the salutes.
