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INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG
The National Flag shall be a tricolour panel made up of three rectangular panels or sub-panels of equal width. 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 ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.
- The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on July 22, 1947.
- Display of the National Flag is governed by the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of
Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
- As per the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002, there is no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of general public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc., except to the extent provided in the above mentioned acts and any other law enacted on the subject
STATE EMBLEM
- The State Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath.
- The profile of the Lion Capital showing three lions mounted on the abacus with a Dharma Chakra in the centre, a bull on the right and a galloping horse on the left, and outlines of Dharma Chakras on the extreme right and left was adopted as the State Emblem of India on January 26, 1950.
- The motto “Satyameva Jayate”-Truth alone Triumphs—written in Devanagari script below the profile of the Lion Capital is part of the State Emblem of India.
- In the State Emblem lies the official seal of the Government of India. Its use is 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, composed originally in Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly 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.
- The complete song consists of five stanzas. The first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem.
- The playing time of the full version of the National Anthem is approximately 52 seconds.
NATIONAL SONG
- The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.
- It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana. The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.
NATIONAL CELENDAR
- The National Calendar based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days was adopted from March 22, 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes : (i) Gazette of India, (ii) news broadcast by All India Radio, (iii) calendars issued by the Government of India and (iv) Government communications addressed to the public.
- Dates of the National Calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian Calendar, 1 Chaitra falling on March 22 normally and on March 21 in leap year.
CURRENCY SYMBOL
The Indian Rupee sign is an allegory of Indian ethos. The symbol is an amalgam of Devanagari “Ra” and the Roman Capital “R” with two parallel horizontal stripes running at the top representing the national flag and also the “equal to” sign.
- The Indian Rupee sign was adopted by the Government of India on 15th July, 2010.
NATIONAL BIRD
- The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, the National Bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck.
- The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green tail of around 200 elongated feathers.
NATIONAL ANIMAL
- The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris is a striped animal. It has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes.
NATIONAL FLOWER
- Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertn) is the National Flower of India.
- It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.
NATIONAL TREE
- Indian fig tree, Ficus bengalensis, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches.
Because of this characteristic and its longevity, the banyan tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India.
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