A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that is caused

by reflection, refraction and dispersionof light in water droplets resulting in

a spectrum of light appearing in the sky. It takes the form of a multicolouredarc. Rainbows
caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun. Rainbows span
a continuous spectrum of colours. Any distinct bands perceived are an artefact of human colour
vision, and no banding of any type is seen in a black-and-white photo of a rainbow, only a
smooth gradation of intensity to a maximum, then fading towards the other side. For colours seen
by the human eye, the most commonly cited and remembered sequence is Newton's sevenfold
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet,[2][3] remembered by the mnemonic, Richard Of
York Gave Battle In Vain (ROYGBIV). BOYGRIV

Indian National Flag

The National Flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolour of deep saffron, white and India
green; with the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue at its centre. It was adopted in its
present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on 22 July 1947, when it
became the official flag of the Dominion of India. The flag was subsequently retained as that of
the Republic of India. In India, the term "tricolour" (Hindi: , Tirang) almost always refers to
the Indian national flag. The flag is based on the Swaraj flag, a flag of the Indian National
Congress designed by Pingali Venkayya.[N 1]
The flag, by law, is to be made of khadi, a special type of hand-spun cloth, or silk made popular
by Mahatma Gandhi. The manufacturing process and specifications for the flag are laid out by
the Bureau of Indian Standards. The right to manufacture the flag is held by the Khadi
Development and Village Industries Commission, who allocate it to the regional groups. As of
2009, the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha was the sole manufacturer of the
flag.

India
Tirang

Name

Tiranga

Use

Proportion

Adopted

Design

National flag

2:3

22 July 1947

Horizontal tricolour flag (India saffron, white, and

India green). In the centre of the white is a navy
blue wheel with 24 spokes

Designed by Pingali Venkayya[N 1]

Usage of the flag is governed by the Flag Code of India and other laws relating to the national
emblems. The original code prohibited use of the flag by private citizens except on national days
such as the Independence day and the Republic Day. In 2002, on hearing an appeal from a
private citizen, Naveen Jindal, the Supreme Court of India directed the Government of India to
amend the code to allow flag usage by private citizens. Subsequently, the Union Cabinet of
India amended the code to allow limited usage. The code was amended once more in 2005 to
allow some additional use including adaptations on certain forms of clothing. The flag code also
governs the protocol of flying the flag and its use in conjunction with other national and nonnational flags.

According to the Flag code of India, the Indian flag has a ratio of two by three (where the length
of the flag is 1.5 times that of the width). All three stripes of the flag (saffron (Kasari in the code),
white and green) are going to be equal in width and length. The size of the Ashoka Chakra was
not specified in the Flag code, but it should have twenty-four spokes that are evenly spaced. [4] In
section 4.3.1 of "IS1: Manufacturing standards for the Indian Flag", there is a chart that details
the size of the Ashoka Chakra on the nine specific sizes of the national flag. [2] In both the Flag
code and IS1, they call for the Ashoka Chakra to be printed or painted on both sides of the flag in
navy blue.[4][2] Below is the list of specified shades for all colors used on the national flag, with the
exception of Navy Blue, from "IS1: Manufacturing standards for the Indian Flag" as defined in the

1931 CIE Color Specifications.[2] The navy blue colour can be found in the standard IS:18031973.[2
The National flag of India (affectionately called meaning 'tricolour') has three equal
horizontal bands - the top panel is India saffron (Kesari), the bottom panel is India green and
white middle band bearing at its centre the design of Ashoka Chakra in navy blue colour with 24
equally spaced spokes. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, when it
became the official flag of the Dominion of India. The flag was subsequently retained as that of
the Republic of India. The flag is based on the Swaraj flag, a flag of the Indian National Congress
designed by Pingali Venkayya.

Indian Flag - Colors - meaning and symbolism

Saffron stands for renunciation, disinterestedness, courage and sacrifice
White symbolizes truth, peace and purity
Green represents prosperity, vibrance and life.
The Ashok Chakra (wheel) represents the righteousness, progress and perpetuity.
The 24 spokes of the wheel represents the 24 hours of a day

History of Indian Tricolor

"A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it. It is no doubt a kind of idolatry which would
be a sin to destroy. For, a flag represents an Ideal The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English
breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the
Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam."
"It will be necessary for us Indians Muslims, Christians Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their
home-to recognize a common flag to live and to die for."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of
India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand and adopted in its present form during the meeting of
Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British
on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and
26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the
Indian national flag.
The National flag of India is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle
and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to
three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is
that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter
approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.

Evolution of the Tricolour

It is really amazing to see the various changes that our National Flag went through since its first
inception. It was discovered or recognised during our national struggle for freedom. The evolution of the
Indian National Flag sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. In one way it reflects
the political developments in the nation. Some of the historical milestones in the evolution of our
National Flag involve the following:

Unofficial flag of India

in 1906

The Berlin committee

flag, first raised by
Bhikaiji Cama in 1907

The flag used during the

Home Rule movement
in 1917

The flag unofficially

adopted in 1921

The flag adopted in 1931.

This flag was also the
battle ensign of the
Indian National Army

The present Tricolour

flag of India
The first national flag in India is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan
Square (Green Park) in Calcutta now Kolkata. The flag was composed of three horizontal strips of red,
yellow and green.
The second flag was hoisted in Paris by Madame Cama and her band of exiled revolutionaries in 1907
(according to some inl9OS). This was very similar to the first flag except that the top strip had only one
lotus but seven stars denoting the Saptarishi. This flag was also exhibited at a socialist conference in
Berlin.
The third flag went up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant
and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement. This flag had five red and four green
horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on
them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent
and star in one corner.
During the session of the All India Congress Committee which met at Bezwada in 1921 (now
Vijayawada) an Andhra youth prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji. It was made up of two colours-red
and green-representing the two major communities i.e. Hindus and Muslims. Gandhiji suggested the
addition of a white strip to represent the remaining communities of India and the spinning wheel to
symbolise progress of the Nation.
The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag
as our national flag. This flag, the forbear of the present one, was saffron, white and green with
Mahatma Gandhi's spinning wheel at the center. It was, however, clearly stated that it bore no
communal significance and was to be interpreted thus.
On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted it as Free India National Flag. After the advent of
Independence, the colours and their significance remained the same. Only the Dharma Charkha of
Emperor Asoka was adopted in place of the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. Thus, the
tricolour flag of the Congress Party eventually became the tricolour flag of Independent India.

Colours of the Flag:

In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the
country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in
colour shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.

The Chakra:
This Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rdcentury BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and
death in stagnation.

Flag Code
On 26th January 2002, the Indian flag code was modified and after several years of independence, the
citizens of India were finally allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on
any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now Indians can proudly display the national

flag any where and any time, as long as the provisions of the Flag Code are strictly followed to avoid any
disrespect to the tricolour. For the sake of convenience, Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into
three parts. Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. Part II of the Code is
devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational
institutions, etc. Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State
governments and their organisations and agencies.
There are some rules and regulations upon how to fly the flag, based on the 26 January 2002 legislation.
These include the following:

The Do's:

The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps,
scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. An oath of allegiance has been included in the
flag hoisting in schools.

A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the

National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and
honour of the National Flag.

Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their
premises.

The Don'ts

The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be
flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather.

The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It
cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.

No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or
garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon,
rosette or bunting.

More information on Flag Code of India (PDF file that opens in a new window)
The Indian National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of
our national pride. Over the last five decades, several people including members of armed forces have
ungrudgingly laid down their lives to keep the tricolour flying in its full glory.

Also see:

Pingali Venkayya (died 1963) was an Indian freedom fighter and the designer of the flag on
which the Indian national flag was based. Various so-called national flags had been used by
members of the Indian independence movement prior to independence being achieved in 1947.
Venkayya's version was first designed for the Indian National Congress and subsequently
modified in 1947.[1]
According to The Hindu, "Pingali Venkayya was an authority in geology, agriculture and also an
educationist who set up an educational institution in Machilipatnam. He, however, died in poverty

in 1963 and was largely forgotten by the society and by his own party, the Congress." A postage
stamp was issued to commemorate him in 2009 and in 2011 it was proposed that he be
posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. The outcome of that proposal is not known.[2]