🇮🇳 Chapter 01 · Topic 04 · National Symbols

National Tree, River & Sport

Banyan tree, Ganga river, Hockey — significance; national aquatic animal (Gangetic dolphin), national reptile (King Cobra).

🌳 National Tree — Banyan

Scientific name: Ficus benghalensis
Also called the Indian Banyan or Bengal Fig
Declared national tree in 1950
The banyan tree is known for its aerial prop roots that grow down from branches and form additional trunks — allowing the tree to spread over a very large area
Symbolises immortality, longevity, and unity — the tree never dies as it keeps spreading
Sacred in Hinduism — associated with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva; the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) is also sacred but the Banyan is the national tree
The largest banyan tree in India is in the Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah (West Bengal) — covers about 1.5 hectares
The banyan tree is the state tree of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana

🌊 National River — Ganga

The Ganga (Ganges) was declared India’s national river on 4 November 2008
The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was established in 2009 to clean and conserve the Ganga
The Ganga originates from the Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand) and flows ~2,525 km to the Bay of Bengal
The Ganga is the most sacred river in Hinduism — worshipped as Goddess Ganga
The Namami Gange Programme (2014) is the flagship programme for Ganga rejuvenation
The Ganga basin is the most densely populated river basin in the world
The Ganga is home to the Gangetic dolphin (national aquatic animal)

🏑 National Sport — Hockey

Field Hockey is considered India’s national sport (though there is no official government declaration)
India has won the most Olympic gold medals in hockey — 8 gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964)
India’s golden era of hockey: 1928–1964 — dominated world hockey for 36 years
The legendary player Major Dhyan Chand (1905–1979) is called the “Wizard of Hockey”
His birthday, 29 August, is celebrated as National Sports Day
India won the Olympic gold in hockey again at Tokyo 2020 (2021) — after a 41-year gap
The Hockey India is the governing body for field hockey in India

⭐ National Aquatic Animal — Gangetic Dolphin: The Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared India’s national aquatic animal in 2009. It is found in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems. IUCN Status: Endangered. It is blind (uses echolocation) and is a freshwater dolphin. The city of Guwahati (Assam) is known as the “City of Dolphins.” Project Dolphin was launched in 2020 to protect dolphins.

📌 National Reptile — King Cobra: The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is India’s national reptile. It is the world’s longest venomous snake — can reach up to 5.5 metres. Found in the forests of Western Ghats, Northeast India, and Andaman Islands. IUCN Status: Vulnerable. Protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. The King Cobra is the only snake that builds a nest for its eggs.

✅ Revision Checklist — Tree, River & Sport

✅ National tree = Banyan = Ficus benghalensis = declared 1950
✅ Largest banyan = Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah, West Bengal
✅ National river = Ganga = declared 4 November 2008
✅ Namami Gange Programme = 2014 = Ganga rejuvenation
✅ National sport = Field Hockey (no official declaration)
✅ India = 8 Olympic gold medals in hockey = 1928–1964
✅ Major Dhyan Chand = “Wizard of Hockey” = 29 August = National Sports Day
✅ National aquatic animal = Gangetic Dolphin = Platanista gangetica = declared 2009
✅ Project Dolphin = 2020
✅ National reptile = King Cobra = Ophiophagus hannah = world’s longest venomous snake