India has been moving from the old wiring colour code to the IEC-harmonised colours. Both are still found in the field, so always test before you touch a conductor.
Old Indian convention
| Conductor | Single phase | Three phase |
|---|---|---|
| Phase (Live) | Red | Red, Yellow, Blue |
| Neutral | Black | Black |
| Earth | Green | Green |
New convention (IEC 60446 – current practice)
| Conductor | Single phase | Three phase (L1/L2/L3) |
|---|---|---|
| Phase (Live) | Brown | Brown, Black, Grey |
| Neutral | Light Blue | Light Blue |
| Earth | Green-Yellow (striped) | Green-Yellow (striped) |
Safety: Colour codes are a guide, not a guarantee. In older or mixed installations the colours may not match either standard – always switch off and verify with a tester before working on any wiring.