Chapter 2 – National Symbols

• 05 May 2025

National Flag 

The National Flag of India is a tricolour with Indian saffron (Kesari) at the top, symbolizing courage and sacrifice, white in the middle representing peace and truth, and green at the bottom symbolizing faith and chivalry.  

• The central Ashoka Chakra in navy blue, with 24 equally spaced spokes, must be clearly visible on both sides of the flag. The flag’s proportions follow a 3:2 ratio of length to height.  
• Adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, the display of the flag is governed by the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India, 2002, which consolidates all relevant laws and practices.  
• There are no restrictions on public or private display of the flag, except as outlined by these laws. 

State Emblem  

• The State Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, featuring four back-to-back lions on a circular abacus adorned with sculptures of an elephant, galloping horse, bull, and lion, separated by Dharma Chakras. The abacus rests on a bell-shaped lotus, and below the Lion Capital is the motto “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth Alone Triumphs) in Devanagari script. The emblem serves as the official seal of the Government of India, regulated by the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, and the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2007.  

National Anthem  

• The song "Jana Gana Mana," originally composed in Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version as the National Anthem of India on January 24, 1950. It was first sung on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.  

National Anthem  

• The song "Vande Mataram," composed by Bankimchandra Chatterji in Sanskrit, holds equal status with the National Anthem and was first sung at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.  

 National Calender 

• The National Calendar, based on the Saka Era, adopts Chaitra as its first month with a normal year of 365 days. It was officially adopted on March 22, 1957, alongside the Gregorian calendar for purposes such as the Gazette of India, news broadcasts by All India Radio, government calendars, and public communications.  
• The National Calendar maintains permanent correspondence with the Gregorian calendar, with 1 Chaitra falling on March 22 in normal years and March 21 in leap years. 

National Animal and Bird 

• The Tiger and the Peacock were re-notified as the National Animal and the National Bird of India by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2011.