Parameters elucidated on subsequent paragraphs should be met for consideration of such proposals.

Operational Criteria

1.     Affiliation with Navy

      (a)     Operations involving beach assault/landing within or outside the territory of India .  

      (b)     Close cooperation over a period of minimum three months in UN Peace Keeping/Enforcing
      Mission.  

      (c)     Close operational cooperation during CI Ops over a period of minimum three months.  

      (d)     The above operations should involve movement of personnel in ships and/or Naval gun
      fire/Aviation support necessitating detailed planning and coordination.    

2.     Affiliation with Air Force  

      (a)     Conventional Airborne/Heliborne operations in close cooperation with AF.  

      (b)     Close Air Support to ground troops necessitating detailed planning and coordination.  

      (c)     Operational cooperation in counter insurgency operations over minimum duration of 
      15 days leading to concrete results.  

The above mentioned operations should be of appreciable magnitude/importance.  In addition, they
should be endorsed by MO Directorate or mentioned in a  recognized literary work.

Other Criteria

Proposals of affiliations on following grounds may also be considered depending on merits of each case:-  

      (a)     Training carried out during major exercises involving joint planning coordination for a period 
      of more than 30 days.

      (b)     Any important association, dating back in history, with regards to origin/raising.  

      (c)     Close cooperation in aid to civil authorities (less maintenance of law and order) such as 
      disaster management.

Criteria for Approval  

      (a)     The association/affiliation being proposed would be based purely on operational situations 
      where both the parties should have closely interacted in actual combat missions of appreciable 
      magnitude and historical importance.  Such an association should further lead to healthy 
      camaraderie and engender better inter-services relations.  

      (b)     There should be no financial implications as a result of the association/affiliation.  It 
      should not involve movement of personnel or celebration.  

      (c)     The association/affiliation should not be based on ethnic affinity  or merely having 
      similarities in hands or crests.  

      (d)     The association/affiliation should be supported by authentic documents.  

      (e)     There should normally be no affiliations with foreign armies/units.  Exceptional cases will,
      however, be considered on merits on case to  case basis.  

      (f)     A detailed statement of case justifying the association should be forwarded through staff 
      channels.  

In addition to inter service affiliations, intra service affiliations  of units of all arms/services are to be considered for commemoration of epic battles which are designated as battle honours.