MHA Advisory Against Use of National Flag Made of Plastic

• 14 Aug 2018

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an Advisory to all State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure strict compliance of the provisions contained in the 'Flag Code of India, 2002' and 'The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971'.

• It has been brought to notice of the MHA that on the occasions of important national, cultural and sports events, the National Flags made of plastic are also being used in place of National Flags made of paper.
• Since, plastic flags are not easily biodegradable like paper flags, these do not get decomposed for a long time and ensuring appropriate disposal of National Flags made of plastic commensurate with dignity of the flag, is a practical problem.
• The Advisory has stated that Flags made of paper only are to be used by public in terms of the provisions of the 'Flag Code of India, 2002' and such paper Flags are not discarded or thrown on the ground after the event.
• Such Flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the Flag. It is requested to give wide publicity, for not using the National Flag made of plastic, in the electronic and print media.
• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 states that whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
  • The Act also states that whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

General Description of the National Flag as per the Flag Code of India

• The national flag shall be a tri-colour panel made up of three rectangular panels or sub-panels of equal widths.
• The colour of the top panel shall be India saffron (kesari) and that of the bottom panel shall be India green. The middle panel shall be white, bearing at its centre the design of Ashoka Chakra in navy blue colour with 24 equally spaced spokes. The Ashoka Chakra shall preferably be screen printed or otherwise printed or stenciled or suitably embroidered and shall be completely visible on both sides of the flag in the centre of the white panel.
• The national flag of India shall be made of hand spun and hand woven wool/cotton/silk khadi bunting.
• The national flag shall be rectangular in shape. The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the flag shall be 3:2.