Why in News?
National Flag Day completed 79 years since the Constituent Assembly adopted the design of India’s National Flag, ahead of Independence in 1947.
Key Facts for Prelims: National Flag Day and the Tricolour
- Structure: Horizontal tricolour — deep saffron (top), white (middle), deep green (bottom)
- Centre of white band: A navy-blue Ashoka Chakra (Dharma Chakra) with 24 spokes
- Length-to-width ratio: 3:2
- Original designer: Pingali Venkayya, who presented an early version to Mahatma Gandhi
- Evolution: Venkayya’s original design had red and green bands (representing Hindus and Muslims) with a charkha; a white band was added later on Gandhi’s suggestion for other communities
- Final change: The charkha was replaced by the Ashoka Chakra when the Constituent Assembly, chaired by Dr Rajendra Prasad, adopted the flag as the National Flag of Sovereign India — the event now marked each year as National Flag Day
Static Exam Link: Flag Code of India
- Usage, display and hoisting of the National Flag is governed by the Flag Code of India, 2002
- Before 2002, private citizens did not have an unrestricted right to hoist the National Flag; the Naveen Jindal case led the Supreme Court to recognise flag-hoisting as a facet of the fundamental right to freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a), prompting the Flag Code amendment
- Later amendments to the Flag Code allowed flags made of machine-made and polyester material (earlier restricted to hand-spun khadi) and permitted the flag to be flown day and night if illuminated
- National Flag Day is distinct from Independence Day (August 15) — one marks the flag’s adoption, the other India’s freedom
Quick Revision Table: National Flag Day & the National Flag
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Designer | Pingali Venkayya |
| Adopted By | Constituent Assembly (chaired by Dr Rajendra Prasad) |
| Band Colours | Saffron, White, Green (top to bottom) |
| Central Emblem | Ashoka Chakra (24 spokes), navy blue |
| Length : Width Ratio | 3 : 2 |
| Governing Code | Flag Code of India, 2002 |
| Key SC Case | Naveen Jindal case — citizen’s right to hoist flag |
Trap / Confusing Points
| Confusion | Correct Fact |
|---|---|
| The flag’s central emblem is a charkha | The charkha was in Venkayya’s original design; the Ashoka Chakra replaced it in the final adopted flag |
| Flag ratio is 2:3 (width:length) | The official ratio is stated as length:width = 3:2 |
| National Flag Day and Independence Day mark the same event | National Flag Day marks adoption of the flag design; Independence Day (August 15) marks India’s freedom |
| Citizens always had an unrestricted right to hoist the National Flag | This right was clarified only after the Naveen Jindal case and the Flag Code of India, 2002 |
| Only hand-spun khadi flags are legally permitted | Later amendments allow machine-made and polyester flags as well |
Practice MCQs
1. Who is credited with designing the original version of India’s National Flag?
a. Mahatma Gandhi
b. Pingali Venkayya
c. Rajendra Prasad
d. Jawaharlal Nehru
Ans: B
Pingali Venkayya designed the original version of the Indian National Flag, presented to Gandhi in 1921.
2. The official length-to-width ratio of the Indian National Flag is:
a. 2:3
b. 3:2
c. 1:1
d. 4:3
Ans: B
The National Flag has an official length-to-width ratio of 3:2.
3. The Ashoka Chakra on the National Flag has how many spokes?
a. 12
b. 16
c. 24
d. 32
Ans: C
The navy-blue Ashoka Chakra at the centre of the white band has 24 spokes.
4. The right of citizens to hoist the National Flag was expanded following which case?
a. Kesavananda Bharati case
b. Naveen Jindal case
c. Maneka Gandhi case
d. Golaknath case
Ans: B
The Naveen Jindal case led the Supreme Court to recognise flag-hoisting as part of the fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a), leading to amendment of the Flag Code.
5. National Flag Day is observed each year to mark:
a. India’s Independence in 1947
b. The adoption of the National Flag design by the Constituent Assembly
c. The birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya
d. The framing of the Constitution
Ans: B
National Flag Day marks the day the Constituent Assembly adopted the design of India’s National Flag, on 22 July 1947.
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To know more about the history of India’s National Flag, Click here.
