The National Flag of India

• Adopted22 July 1947
• Ratio (length : height)3 : 2
• Ashoka Chakra24 equally spaced spokes
• Governed byFlag Code of India, 2002

Evolution and adoption

The Flag Code of India opens with the words: “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.”

According to the factsheet Evolution of the Indian National Flag issued by the Ministry of Culture, the flag in its present form was adopted on 22 July 1947. Its evolution traces the phases of the freedom struggle:

• 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).
• 1907 — A similar flag with slight modifications was raised by Madam Bhikaji Cama in Paris. It was also exhibited in Berlin at a socialist conference, and so came to be called the Berlin Committee Flag.
• 1917 — As part of the Home Rule Movement, Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak hoisted another flag, signifying autonomous rule for Indians within the Colonial Empire.
• 1921 — At the Bezwada (now Vijayawada) session of the Congress, the freedom fighter Pingali Venkaiah presented a flag design to Mahatma Gandhi. It consisted of three stripes representing the multiple communities living in harmony in India, with a spinning wheel superimposed at the centre signifying the country’s progress.
• 1931 — A formal resolution was passed adopting Pingali Venkaiah’s flag with a modification. White and green remained; red was replaced by saffron. Saffron stood for courage, white for peace, and green for fertility and growth.
• July 1947 — The Constituent Assembly formally adopted the flag of free India. The spinning wheel was replaced by the Dharma Chakra of Emperor Ashoka, symbolising truth and life. This came to be called the Tiranga.

The resolution was moved and debated in the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947; the proceedings of that sitting are preserved in Volume IV of the Constituent Assembly Debates.

Design and specification

Part I of the Flag Code of India, 2002 lays down the general description of the National Flag.

Paragraph 1.1. 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 stencilled or suitably embroidered and shall be completely visible on both sides of the Flag in the centre of the white panel.

Paragraph 1.3. The National Flag shall be rectangular in shape. The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.

Paragraph 1.4 prescribes nine standard sizes:

Paragraph 1.5. An appropriate size should be chosen for display. The flags of 450×300 mm size are intended for aircrafts on VVIP flights, 225×150 mm size for motor-cars and 150×100 mm size for table flags.

For all occasions of official display, paragraph 3.4 requires that only a Flag conforming to the specifications laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards and bearing their standard mark shall be used. On other occasions too, it is desirable that only such Flags of appropriate size are flown.

Material and manufacture

As originally enacted, paragraph 1.2 of the Flag Code provided that the National Flag of India shall be made of hand spun and hand woven wool / cotton / silk khadi bunting.

Display by the public

Part II of the Flag Code governs hoisting, display and use of the National Flag by members of the public, private organisations and educational institutions.

Paragraph 2.1. There shall be no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of the general public, private organisations, educational institutions, etc., except to the extent provided in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and any other law enacted on the subject.

Paragraph 2.2. A member of the public, a private organisation or an educational institution may hoist or display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise, consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag. The paragraph then lays down the following:

• Whenever the National Flag is displayed, it should occupy the position of honour and should be distinctly placed.
• A damaged or dishevelled Flag should not be displayed.
• The Flag should not be flown from a single masthead simultaneously with any other flag or flags.
• The Flag should not be flown on any vehicle except in accordance with the provisions contained in Section IX of Part III of the Code.
• When the Flag is displayed on a speaker’s platform, it should be flown on the speaker’s right as he faces the audience, or flat against the wall, above and behind the speaker.
• When the Flag is displayed flat and horizontal on a wall, the saffron band should be uppermost; when displayed vertically, the saffron band should be on the right with reference to the Flag, i.e. to the left of the person facing the Flag.
• To the extent possible, the Flag should conform to the specifications prescribed in Part I of the Code.
• No other flag or bunting should be placed higher than or above or side by side with the National Flag; nor should any object including flowers or garlands or emblem be placed on or above the Flag-mast from which the Flag is flown.
• The Flag should not be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting or in any other manner for decoration.
• The Flag made of paper may be waved by the public on occasions of important national, cultural and sports events. However, such paper Flags should not be discarded or thrown on the ground after the event. As far as possible, they should be disposed of in private consistent with the dignity of the Flag.
• The Flag should not be displayed or fastened in any manner as may damage it.
• When the Flag is in a damaged or soiled condition, it shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the Flag.

In schools and colleges

Paragraph 2.3. The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions — schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps and the like — to inspire respect for the Flag. The Code sets out a model set of instructions for the assembly, the unfurling, the salute and the National Anthem which follows the Flag salutation.

On all occasions when the pledge is taken, it follows the National Anthem. In pledging allegiance to the National Flag, the practice to be adopted in schools is that, standing with folded hands, all repeat together the following pledge:

Correct display

Section III of Part III of the Flag Code lays down the manner of correct display.

• 3.5 — Wherever the Flag is flown, it should occupy the position of honour and be distinctly placed.
• 3.6 — Where the practice is to fly the Flag on any public building, it shall be flown on that building on all days including Sundays and holidays and, except as provided in the Code, it shall be flown from sunrise to sunset irrespective of weather conditions. The Flag may be flown on such a building at night also, but this should be only on very special occasions.
• 3.7 — The Flag shall always be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Where hoisting and lowering are accompanied by appropriate bugle calls, they should be simultaneous with the bugle calls.
• 3.8 — When the Flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from a windowsill, balcony or front of a building, the saffron band shall be at the farther end of the staff.
• 3.9 — When the Flag is displayed flat and horizontal on a wall, the saffron band shall be uppermost; when displayed vertically, the saffron band shall be to the right with reference to the Flag, i.e. it may be to the left of a person facing it.
• 3.10 — When the Flag is displayed on a speaker’s platform, it shall be flown on a staff on the speaker’s right as he faces the audience, or flat against the wall above and behind the speaker.
• 3.11 — When used on occasions like the unveiling of a statue, the Flag shall be displayed distinctly and separately.
• 3.12 — When the Flag is displayed alone on a motor car, it shall be flown from a staff affixed firmly either on the middle front of the bonnet or to the front right side of the car.
• 3.13 — When the Flag is carried in a procession or a parade, it shall be either on the marching right, i.e. the Flag’s own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the centre of the line.

Incorrect display and misuse

Sections IV and V of Part III set out what must not be done.

• A damaged or dishevelled Flag shall not be displayed. (3.14)
• The Flag shall not be dipped in salute to any person or thing. (3.15)
• No other flag or bunting shall be placed higher than or above or, except as provided in the Code, side by side with the National Flag; nor shall any object including flowers or garlands or emblem be placed on or above the Flag-mast from which the Flag is flown. (3.16)
• The Flag shall not be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting or in any other manner for decoration. (3.17)
• The Flag shall not be used to cover a speaker’s desk nor shall it be draped over a speaker’s platform. (3.18)
• The Flag shall not be displayed with the “saffron” down. (3.19)
• The Flag shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. (3.20)
• The Flag shall not be displayed or fastened in any manner as may damage it. (3.21)
• The Flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in State, Military or Central Para-military Forces funerals. (3.22)
• The Flag shall not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle, train or boat. (3.23)
• The Flag shall not be used or stored in such a manner as may damage or soil it. (3.24)
• The Flag shall not be used as a covering for a building. (3.26)
• The Flag shall not be used as a portion of a costume or uniform of any description. It shall not be embroidered or printed upon cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or boxes. (3.27)
• Lettering of any kind shall not be put upon the Flag. (3.28)
• The Flag shall not be used in any form of advertisement, nor shall an advertising sign be fastened to the pole from which the Flag is flown. (3.29)
• The Flag shall not be used as a receptacle for receiving, delivering, holding or carrying anything — provided that there shall be no objection to keeping flower petals inside the Flag before it is unfurled, as part of celebrations on special occasions and on National Days like the Republic Day and the Independence Day. (3.30)

The salute

Paragraph 3.31. During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the Flag, or when the Flag is passing in a parade or in a review, all persons present should face the Flag and stand at attention. Those present in uniform should render the appropriate salute. When the Flag is in a moving column, persons present will stand at attention or salute as the Flag passes them. A dignitary may take the salute without a head dress.

Display with flags of other nations and of the United Nations

• 3.32 — When displayed in a straight line with flags of other countries, the National Flag shall be on the extreme right; that is, if an observer were to stand in the centre of the row of the flags facing the audience, the National Flag should be to his extreme right.
• 3.33 — Flags of foreign countries shall proceed as from the National Flag in alphabetical order on the basis of the English versions of the names of the countries concerned. It is permissible to begin and also to end the row of flags with the National Flag, and also to include the National Flag in the normal countrywise alphabetical order. The National Flag shall be hoisted first and lowered last.
• 3.34 — Where flags are flown in an open circle, in an arc or a semi-circle, the same procedure is adopted. In a closed or complete circle, the National Flag shall mark the beginning of the circle and the flags of other countries proceed in a clockwise manner until the last flag is placed next to the National Flag.
• 3.35 — When the National Flag is displayed against a wall with another flag from crossed staffs, the National Flag shall be on the right, i.e. the Flag’s own right, and its staff shall be in front of the staff of the other flag.
• 3.36 — When the United Nations Flag is flown along with the National Flag, it can be displayed on either side of the National Flag. The general practice is to fly the National Flag on the extreme right with reference to the direction which it is facing.
• 3.37 — When the National Flag is flown with flags of other countries, the flag masts shall be of equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace.
• 3.38 — The National Flag shall not be flown from a single mast-head simultaneously with any other flag or flags. There shall be separate mast-heads for different flags.

Public buildings and official residences

• 3.39 — Normally the National Flag should be flown only on important public buildings such as High Courts, Secretariats, Commissioners’ Offices, Collectorates, Jails and offices of the District Boards, Municipalities and Zilla Parishads and Departmental / Public Sector Undertakings.
• 3.40 — In frontier areas, the Flag may be flown on border customs posts, check posts, out posts and at other special places where flying the Flag has special significance, and on the camp sites of border patrols.
• 3.41 — The Flag should be flown on the official residences of the President, Vice-President, Governors and Lieutenant Governors when they are at Headquarters, and on the building in which they stay during visits outside Headquarters. On Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, National Week (6th to 13th April, in memory of the martyrs of Jalianwala Bagh), any other particular day of national rejoicing specified by the Government of India, or in the case of a State on the anniversary of formation of that State, the Flag should be flown from sunrise to sunset on such official residences irrespective of whether the dignitary is at Headquarters or not.
• 3.42 — When the President, the Vice-President or the Prime Minister visits an institution, the National Flag may be flown by the institution as a mark of respect.
• 3.43 — On the occasion of a visit to India by foreign dignitaries — namely President, Vice-President, Emperor / King or Heir Prince and the Prime Minister — the National Flag may be flown along with the flag of the foreign country concerned, in accordance with Section VII, by private institutions according reception to the visiting dignitaries and on such public buildings as the dignitaries intend to visit on the day of the visit.

Display on motor cars

Paragraph 3.44. The privilege of flying the National Flag on motor cars is limited to the following:

3.45. The dignitaries mentioned in clauses (5) to (7) of paragraph 3.44 may fly the National Flag on their cars whenever they consider it necessary or advisable.

3.46. When a foreign dignitary travels in a car provided by Government, the National Flag will be flown on the right side of the car and the flag of the foreign country will be flown on the left side of the car.

Trains and aircraft

• 3.47 — When the President travels by special train within the country, the National Flag should be flown from the driver’s cab on the side facing the platform of the station from where the train departs. The Flag should be flown only when the special train is stationary or when coming into the station where it is going to halt.
• 3.48 — The National Flag will be flown on the aircraft carrying the President, the Vice-President or the Prime Minister on a visit to a foreign country. Alongside the National Flag, the flag of the country visited should also be flown; but when the aircraft lands in countries en route, the National Flags of the countries touched would be flown instead, as a gesture of courtesy and goodwill.
• 3.49 — When the President goes on tour within India, the National Flag will be displayed on the side by which the President will embark the aircraft or disembark from it.

Half-masting

Paragraph 3.50. In the event of the death of the following dignitaries, the National Flag shall be half-masted at the places indicated against each on the day of the death of the dignitary:

• 3.51 — If the intimation of the death of any dignitary is received in the afternoon, the Flag shall be half-masted on the following day also at the place or places indicated above, provided the funeral has not taken place before sunrise on that day.
• 3.52 — On the day of the funeral of a dignitary mentioned above, the Flag shall be half-masted at the place where the funeral takes place.
• 3.53 — If State mourning is to be observed on the death of any dignitary, the Flag shall be half-masted throughout the period of the mourning — throughout India in the case of Union dignitaries, and throughout the State or Union Territory concerned in the case of a State or Union Territory dignitary.
• 3.54 — Half-masting of the Flag and, where necessary, observance of State mourning on the death of foreign dignitaries will be governed by special instructions issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs in individual cases.
• 3.55 — In the event of a half-mast day coinciding with Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, National Week (6th to 13th April), any other particular day of national rejoicing specified by the Government of India, or, in the case of a State, the anniversary of the formation of that State, the Flags shall not be flown at half-mast except over the building where the body of the deceased is lying, until such time as it has been removed; that Flag shall be raised to the full-mast position after the body has been removed.
• 3.56 — If mourning is to be observed in a parade or procession where a Flag is carried, two streamers of black crepe shall be attached to the spear head, allowing the streamers to fall naturally. The use of black crepe in such a manner shall be only by an order of the Government.
• 3.57 — When flown at half-mast, the Flag shall be hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to the half-mast position; but before lowering the Flag for the day, it shall be raised again to the peak. By half-mast is meant hauling down the Flag to one half the distance between the top and the guy-line and, in the absence of the guy-line, half of the staff.
• 3.58 — On occasions of State, Military or Central Para-Military Forces funerals, the Flag shall be draped over the bier or coffin with the saffron towards the head of the bier or coffin. The Flag shall not be lowered into the grave or burnt in the pyre.

Respectful disposal

Paragraph 3.25. When the Flag is in a damaged or soiled condition, it shall not be cast aside or disrespectfully disposed of, but shall be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the Flag.

The same requirement appears for the public in paragraph 2.2. Paper Flags waved by the public on national, cultural and sports occasions should not be discarded or thrown on the ground after the event; they too should be disposed of in private, keeping in mind the dignity of the National Flag. The Ministry of Home Affairs reiterated this instruction to all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations by its circular dated 10 August 2026.

The law and its penalties

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

Section 2. Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Explanation 1 — Comments expressing disapprobation or criticism of the Constitution or of the Indian National Flag or of any measures of the Government with a view to obtain an amendment of the Constitution of India or an alteration of the Indian National Flag by lawful means do not constitute an offence under this section.

Explanation 2 — The expression “Indian National Flag” includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof, made of any substance or represented on any substance.

Explanation 3 — The expression “public place” means any place intended for use by, or accessible to, the public and includes any public conveyance.

Explanation 4 — Disrespect to the Indian National Flag means and includes:

• a gross affront or indignity offered to the Indian National Flag;
• dipping the Indian National Flag in salute to any person or thing;
• flying the Indian National Flag at half-mast except on occasions on which the Flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government;
• using the Indian National Flag as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in state funerals or armed forces or other para-military forces funerals;
• using the Indian National Flag as a portion of costume, uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person; or by embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material;
• putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian National Flag;
• using the Indian National Flag as a receptacle for receiving, delivering or carrying anything, except flower petals before the Indian National Flag is unfurled as part of celebrations on special occasions including the Republic Day or the Independence Day;
• using the Indian National Flag as covering for a statue or a monument or a speaker’s desk or a speaker’s platform;
• allowing the Indian National Flag to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water intentionally;
• draping the Indian National Flag over the hood, top, and sides or back or on a vehicle, train, boat or an aircraft or any other similar object;
• using the Indian National Flag as a covering for a building;
• intentionally displaying the Indian National Flag with the “saffron” down.

Section 3A provides that whoever, having already been convicted of an offence under section 2 or section 3, is again convicted of any such offence shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year.

Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950

The Indian National Flag has been specified as an emblem in the Schedule to this Act. Section 3 provides that, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no person shall, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, use or continue to use, for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession, or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, any name or emblem specified in the Schedule or any colourable imitation thereof without the previous permission of the Central Government or of such officer of Government as may be authorised in this behalf.

Accordingly, paragraph 2.1 of the Flag Code records that the Flag shall not be used for commercial purposes in violation of that Act, and shall not be dipped in salute to any person or thing.