RU-53-02-0122-290722/FACTSHEET
Evolution of the Indian National Flag
(Ministry of Culture)
July 29, 2022
The National Flag of India, in its present form, was adopted on July 22, 1947. In its evolution,
lies the different phases of the fight for independence and in its unfurling lies the story of
India’s freedom.
• In 1906, during the Swadeshi and Boycott struggle, a flag of India
was hoisted for the first time in the Parsee Bagan Square in
Calcutta (present-day Kolkata).
• In 1907, a similar flag with slight modifications was raised by
Madam Bhikaji Cama in Paris. This flag was also exhibited in
Berlin at a socialist conference and thus came to be called the
Berlin Committee Flag.
• In 1917, as a part of the Home Rule Movement, Annie Besant and
Bal Gangadhar Tilak hoisted another flag. The flag signified
autonomous rule for Indians within the Colonial Empire.
• In 1921, at the Bezwada (now Vijayawada) session of Congress, a
young freedom fighter Pingali Venkaiah, presented a design of a
flag to Mahatma Gandhi. The flag consisted of three stripes
representing multiple communities living in harmony in India. A
spinning wheel was superimposed in the center, signifying the
country's progress.
• In 1931, a formal resolution was passed adopting Pingali
Vekaiah's flag with a little modification. While the white and
green remained, the red was replaced by saffron. The saffron was
for courage, white for peace and green for fertility and growth.
• Finally, in July 1947, the Constituent Assembly formally
adopted the flag of free India. The spinning wheel was
replaced by the Dharma Chakra of Emperor Ashoka,
symbolizing truth and life. This came to be called the
Tiranga.
Source: Ministry of Culture
AG/HP/RC/PPD/SS
The Tiranga: A Symbol of India’s
Journey and Aspirations
T
he National Flag of India, affectionately known as the Tiraṅgā (meaning “Tricolour”),
is a horizontal rectangular tricolor flag. Adopted in its current form on July 22, 1947,
by the Constituent Assembly, it officially became the flag of the Union of India on
August 15, 1947, and later, the flag of the Republic of India. This flag embodies the spirit of
a nation’s struggle for independence and its guiding principles.
A Legacy of Nationalistic Flags: Pre-
Independence Movement
Before India gained independence,
there was no single national flag that
represented the entire subcontinent.
The idea of an Indian flag was initially
proposed by the British after the
rebellion of 1857.
During the independence movement, several flags emerged,
reflecting the evolving national identity:
B ritish Civil Ensign (1880–1947): This flag, similar to those of other British colonies,
featured a red field with the Union Jack in the upper-left quadrant and a Star of India in
the center of the right half. (Image 2: Civil Ensign of British India, 1880–1947.)
(Description: A red ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and a Star of India topped by
a crown in the fly.)
The “Vande Mataram” Flag (1906): Emerging from the nationalist Swadeshi movement,
this tricolored flag was unveiled in Calcutta in 1906. It featured eight white lotuses on an
upper green band representing eight provinces, a sun and crescent on a bottom red band,
and the “Vande Mataram” slogan in Hindi on a central yellow band. (Image 3: The “Vande
Mataram” flag (Calcutta flag) of 1906.) (Description: A horizontal tricolour flag with green
(top), yellow (middle), and red (bottom) bands. The green band has eight white lotuses,
the yellow band has “Vande Mataram” in Devanagari script, and the red band has a white
crescent moon on the left and a white sun on the right.)
T he Berlin Committee Flag (1907): A slightly modified version of the “Vande Mataram”
flag was raised by Madam Bhikaji Cama at the second International Socialist Congress
in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907. This flag, also exhibited in Berlin, earned it the name
“Berlin Committee Flag.” (Image 4: The Berlin Committee Flag, first raised by Bhikaji
Cama in 1907.) (Description: A flag similar to the “Vande Mataram” flag, featuring green,
yellow, and red horizontal bands, but with some design variations for the symbols.)
The Home Rule Movement Flag (1917) was adopted in 1916 as part of the Home Rule
Movement. Designed by Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, it featured the Union Jack
in the upper left corner, a star and crescent in the upper right, and seven stars displayed
diagonally on a background of five red and four green alternating bands. (Image 5: The
flag used during the Home Rule Movement in 1917.) (Description: A flag with five red and
four green alternating horizontal bands. The canton features the Union Jack, and towards
the fly, there’s a white star and crescent, along with seven white stars arranged
diagonally.)
In April 1921, Mahatma Gandhi articulated the need for an Indian flag in his journal Young
India. He proposed a flag with the charkha (spinning wheel) at its center, symbolizing self-
reliance and the common man. Pingali Venkayya was commissioned to design this flag,
initially featuring a red band for Hindus and a green band for Muslims. However, Gandhi
later realized the need to represent all other religions and peace, leading to the addition of
a white band.
The Swaraj flag, with the spinning wheel, was officially adopted by the Indian National
Congress in 1931. By this time, the colors had a more secular interpretation: red for the
sacrifices of the people, white for purity, and green for hope. It became a significant
symbol of the independence movement.
The Final Adoption: From Charkha to Ashoka Chakra:
A s India approached independence in August 1947, the need for a national flag that
would be acceptable to all parties and communities became paramount. On June 23,
1947, the Constituent Assembly formed an ad hoc committee, headed by Dr. Rajendra
Prasad, to select a flag for independent India.
The committee recommended adopting the flag of the Indian National Congress but with
“suitable modifications” to ensure it had no communal undertones. The most significant
change involved replacing the charkha (spinning wheel) with the Ashoka Chakra (wheel of
law) from the Lion Capital of Ashoka. According to philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan,
the chakra was chosen to represent dharma (law), while Jawaharlal Nehru noted its
practical advantage of a symmetrical appearance. Initially, Gandhi had reservations, but he
eventually accepted the change.
The final design, featuring the Ashoka Chakra, was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru at the
Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, and was unanimously approved. The design is
credited to Pingali Venkayya, with modifications by Tyabji.
The Tiraṅgā, a horizontal rectangular tricolor flag, has a width-to-height aspect ratio of 3:2.
It comprises three equally sized horizontal bands, with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra
featuring 24 evenly spaced spokes in the center of the white band.
The colors and the chakra hold profound symbolism:
- The top band, India Saffron (Kesari), signifies renunciation or disinterestedness, urging
leaders to remain indifferent to material gains and dedicate themselves to their work. It
also embodies courage and sacrifice.
- The middle band, white, represents light and the path of truth, guiding national conduct. It
also stands for peace and truth among all communities.
- The bottom band, India Green, denotes India’s connection to the soil and plant life, which
sustains all other life. It symbolizes faith, chivalry, fertility, and growth.
- The center, navy blue Ashoka Chakra, is a 24-spoke wheel that represents the “wheel of
the law of dharma.” It signifies truth and virtue and emphasizes motion, highlighting the
concept that “there is death in stagnation” and “life in movement.” India must continually
move forward.
The Indian National Flag, featuring the navy blue Ashoka Chakra with its 24 spokes, is a
symbol of the nation’s heritage. The manufacturing process and specifications for this flag
are strictly regulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) through specific documents.
Historically, the flag was exclusively made of khadi, a special hand-spun cloth of cotton,
silk, or wool popularized by Mahatma Gandhi. However, a December 2021 amendment
permitted machine manufacturing and the use of other materials, including polyester.
Raw materials for traditional khadi are limited to cotton, silk, and wool, with specific thread
counts and weaving patterns mandated. As of 2022, four BIS-licensed units in India are
authorized to manufacture the flag.
The Flag Code of India, 2002, and other related laws govern the usage, display, and
disposal of the flag. Insults or improper use of the flag can result in penalties, including
imprisonment or fines.
Key protocols include:
- The flag must never touch the ground or water or be used as drapery.
- It should not be intentionally placed upside down, dipped, or have any lettering inscribed
on it.
- While originally restricted to national days, a 2002 Supreme Court ruling (following an
appeal from Naveen Jindal) allowed private citizens to hoist the flag on any day, provided
its dignity is maintained.
- The flag should always be flown between sunrise and sunset in the open, but can be
flown at night if hoisted on a tall flagpole and well-illuminated.
- When displayed indoors, the flag should always be on the observer’s left (the position of
authority).
- In processions, the flag should be on the marching right or alone in the center at the
front.
The privilege of flying the Indian flag on vehicles is reserved for high-ranking dignitaries,
including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governors, Chief Ministers, and
judges, among others. When flown alongside other national flags, the Indian flag must be
the first one displayed (rightmost from the observer’s perspective in a line or first in a
circle) and no other flag should be larger or placed higher. Damaged or soiled flags must
be destroyed privately and respectfully, preferably by burning.
The Indian flag is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning, a decision made by the
President of India. The flag is raised to the top first and then slowly lowered. This practice
is observed nationwide on the death of the President, Vice President, or Prime Minister,
and in specific regions for other dignitaries. However, it is never flown at half-mast on
national days like Republic Day or Independence Day.
The National Flag of India, the Tiranga, holds immense significance as a powerful and
sacred emblem. It embodies the nation’s rich history, unity, and guiding principles. From its
early inspirations during the freedom struggle to its final adoption and symbolic
representation of truth, peace, and progress, the Tiranga stands as a constant reminder of
India’s identity and its journey forward.0: The Indian Flag displayed correctly, for instance,
at the Red Fort, Delhi.)
Half-mast: The flag is flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning, with the decision made by
the President of India. It is raised to the top first, then slowly lowered. This is observed
nationwide on the death of the President, Vice President, or Prime Minister, and in specific
regions for other dignitaries. However, it is never flown at half-mast on national days like
Republic Day or Independence Day.
Conclusion
The National Flag of India, the Tiranga, is a powerful and sacred emblem. It encapsulates
the rich history, unity, and guiding principles of the nation. From its early inspirations during
the freedom struggle to its final adoption and symbolic representation of truth, peace, and
progress, the Tiranga stands as a constant reminder of India's identity and its journey
forward.
