FAQs
The Flag Foundation of India is dedicated to nurturing respect and pride for the Indian National Flag among citizens. This section answers common questions about the Foundation, and everything you should know about the Tiranga.
A flag is a piece of cloth attached to a flagpole, representing a clan, community, army,
office of authority, industrial house or an individual. On the contrary, a National-flag is more than
a piece of cloth. It is the most solemn and constitutionally or traditionally authorized symbol of a
country. It represents the whole country, the entire nation, its ideals, hopes, aspirations and the
pride. People throughout the history of mankind have laid down life for their National-flag, as it is
the strongest patriotic symbol.
The Flag Foundation of India (FFOI) was founded on 3rd June 2003 by Naveen Jindal following his landmark legal victory affirming citizens’ right to display the National Flag. The Foundation works to promote respect and pride in the Tiranga.
Pingali Venkaiah, who was greatly enthused about designing a flag for the whole of India
It was Pingali Venkaiah, who designed the first ever “Charkha-Jhanda” in white, green and
red as per the instructions of Gandhiji in 1921 at Bijawada (now Vijayawada).
The flag designed by Mrs.Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak was known as ‘The Home
Rule League’s Flag’.
The flag of the Home Rule League (1916) had a mini Union Jack on their party’s flag in its
first quadrant.
The first tricolour raised during our struggle for freedom was hoisted on 9th August 1906 in
Calcutta (now Kolkata) at the Green Park in Parsi Bagan.
Madam Bhikhaji Cama displayed a tricolour at Stuttgart, Germany during an International
Congress.
The green revolt flag of Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar
had a full bloomed ‘Lotus’ in the first
quadrant of the flag and a ‘Roti’ on the
lower fly of the flag. According to some scholars,
the flag had only the rising sun in the center of
the flag.
It was Sister Nivedita, an Irish disciple of Swami Vivekananda who first conceived a
National-flag for all of India in 1905. The Flag is preserved in the Acharya Bhavan Museum,
Kolkata.
Lala Hansraj of Jalandhar suggested the inclusion of the ‘Charkha’ (spinning wheel) on the flag of the Indian National Congress to Gandhiji in 1921.
In 1931, the Tricolour flag with Saffron, White and Green stripes and the Charkha in the center was officially adopted as the flag of the Indian National Congress. It was clearly stated that it bore no communal significance.
Shyamlal Gupta 'Parshad', a freedom fighter and poet from Kanpur, wrote the celebrated flag song "Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyara, Jhanda Uncha Rahe Humara".
The flag used by Subhash Chandra Bose for his Indian Legion in Berlin had the words "Azad Hind" superimposed on the Springing Tiger motif.
The National Flag of Independent India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947.
The first outdoor official flag hoisting after India became independent took place at the Indian High Commission in Canberra, Australia, on August 15, 1947. It was hoisted by Sir Raghunath Paranjpye, the first High Commissioner of India to Australia.
Hansa Mehta led the group of 72 women and presented the first National Flag of Independent India to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, on the midnight of August 14-15, 1947.
It was Mrs.Hansa Mehta who made this emotional statement, while presenting the first Tiranga to Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the then Chairman of the Constituent Assembly. Mrs. Hansa Mehta.
The first public flag hoisting took place at the Princess Park near India Gate, New Delhi in the afternoon of 15th of August 1947. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru did the honour of hoisting the Tiranga.
The first public flag hoisting took place at the Princess Park near India Gate, New Delhi in the afternoon of 15th of August 1947. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru did the honour of hoisting the Tiranga.
The official name for saffron is “India-Saffron” and for green it is “India-Green”. While describing the colours of our flag to any international organization, the two colours are to be described and specified as explained because the two colours have many shades. Hence, we specify the two colours as India-Saffron and India-Green.
The Saffron stands for courage, sacrifice, valour and the spirit of renunciation.
The White in Tiranga stands for purity. It is symbolic of the sun’s rays and thus denotes the path of light.
The Green is for growth and also denotes our relation with earth. Hence, it is the colour of vegetation, agriculture and plant life on which all other life depends.
The Blue in our flag signifies the boundless sky above and the fathomless sea below. The Blue also implies inner energy. The Chakra with its 24 spokes suggests continual progress of the country.
The wheel has been used since ancient times in India as a solar symbol. In July 1947, the Flag Committee chose the Ashoka’s Dharma Chakra for the reason that amongst all the chakras that came to their mind the “Sarnath Chakra” was most beautiful and artistic. On the flag, it signifies India’s continual progress and growth.
The Ashok Chakra in place of the Charkha, which was in use earlier during our struggle for freedom, on the flag for Free-India was suggested to the Flag-Committee by Mr. Badr-ud-Din H.F.Tyabji, a Deputy Secretariat in the Constituent Assembly and the grandson of the great Tyabiji who was once the President of the Indian National Congress.
The ratio of the width to the length of the Flag shall ordinarily be two breadths to three breadths. In other words, the ratio is 2 : 3.
Polyester was added as an official fabric for the national flag of India in 2022.
The flags meant to be used on government buildings are to be mandatorily made only of hand-spun cotton, silk, Khadi and polyester.
It is the ‘Flag Code of India’ 2002.
In the event of death of certain dignitaries recognized by the center/state governments, the National-flag shall be half-mast at certain places and for specified days.
The President and Prime-Minister of India, Judges of the Supreme Court, Indian Ambassadors appointed in foreign lands, etc. can fly the National-flag on their car.
Yes, it is allowed to fly a miniature National flag inside your car on the dashboard or windscreen.
No, lettering of any kind is not to be put upon the Flag
Yes, but it should be above the waistline.
No, it is not allowed nor it is desirable.
It is destroyed in whole in private preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of the Flag such as burying it deep with respect or by immersing it into the Ganga duly folded.
It is placed horizontally on the chest of the deceased. The saffron band is to touch the neck of the body. The flag must not be placed over the body or coffin like a Chadar to avoid touching the feet of the deceased.
Yes, the High Court judges can now fly the National flag on their car
Yes, You can hoist the national flag both during day and night at your home or workplace.
. No, the Flag is to fly between sunrise and sunset regardless of weather conditions
While flying Tiranga besides another country’s National-flag, it will be placed / flown to the left as one looks at it.
No, in a such a case, the Flag will fly full-mast on 26th January, the Republic Day similarly on 15th August, the Independence Day and on the Gandhi Jayanti Day.
No, the general public is not suppose to half-mast the flag; however, they may do so at their discretion. It is so because the Flag is to be half-masted only on Govt. buildings on receiving instructions from the Government. Since no instructions are issued to public to half mast the flag, members of public are not obliged to do so.q1`
The flag will fly full-mast on the jail building after execution of a prisoner
. On the right side of the car and on the left side, the National-flag of the dignitry’s country will be flown.
When the Tiranga is flown besides the UN Flag, it can be flown on either side of it. Tiranga may be flown on either side of the UN Flag.
On 29th May 1953 when the world famous highest peak was scaled for the first time. Tiranga along with the UN, Union Jack and the fish-tailed Nepalese National-flag was flown on the Mount Everest.
Squadron Leader Sanjay Thapa planted the Tiranga for the first time at the North Pole on 6th August, 1997.
Col. J.K.Bajaj planted the Tiranga for the first time on the South Pole on 17th January, 1989.
s. In 1971, the Indian Tricolor travelled into the outer space for the first time on board Apollo-15.
On 9th January 1982, the first Indian Antarctica Expedition planted the Indian Flag at the Dakshin Gangotri.
Mrs. Archana Sardana, displayed the National-flag Tiranga under water at 18mtrs depth off the Neil Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 14th January, 2011..
Offences committed against the National-flag of India are punishable under the “Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act-1971.
The Emblems and Names (Preventation of Improper Use Act,-1950)
Any person who causes insult to the National-flag Tiranga shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine or with both.
Any one 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 the National-flag shall be deemed to have caused insult and disrespect to the Flag.
Since 1972, when the Privy-Purse was abolished in India.
It means that the Rashtrapati or the Rajyapal is not in the Bhawan or that he/ she is away on tour
On 21st November, 1947, but it was dated 15th August, 1947.
On 15th August, 1947.
A march by the armed or para-military forces through the streets of any tension torn towns/ cities, etc. with a view to caution people against violence and to urge them to maintain peace, is called a flag march.
The National-flags flown on VVIP’s cars and on the train and aeroplanes used by the President and the Prime Minister of India are made with double bunting to prevent damage as they flap frequently and vigorously whereas other flags are made of single bunting.
The standard size of a table flag is “6 x 4” (150x100mm).
The standard size of a car flag is “9x6” (225x150mm).
The standard size of President’s train-flag and aeroplane-flags used by the President and Prime Minister of India is “18x12” or (450x300mm).
On 15th August 1947 when India became Independent.
To the Supreme Court of India. Till 1958 the Supreme Court of India was housed in the Sansad Bhawan. Then it moved to its present location at Tilak Marg, New Delhi.
At Hanuman Vatika, Kaithal in Haryana (2009).
Yes, the Tiranga is to be flown on these buildings.
To indicate their nationality for their identification on the high sea.
Flag Adoption Day in India is celebrated on July 22 every year. This date commemorates the day in 1947 when the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the national flag, which was designed by Pingali Venkaiah.
Armed Forces Flag Day is celebrated on December 7 every year in India