National Flag Day on 22 July: How India’s Tricolour Was Adopted
Why in the news
India marks National Flag Day on 22 July, the date in 1947 when the Constituent Assembly adopted the Tricolour as the national flag.
Key facts
- Adopted on 22 July 1947; it became the flag of the Union of India on 15 August 1947.
- The Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes and replaced the spinning wheel.
- Design lineage: Pingali Venkayya, who proposed a flag with a spinning wheel in 1921.
- Ratio is 3:2, with saffron on top, white in the middle and green at the bottom.
| Colour | Meaning given |
|---|---|
| Saffron | Strength and courage |
| White | Purity, truth and peace |
| Green | Fertility, growth and prosperity |
About the Flag Code of India
The Flag Code of India, 2002 lets citizens display the flag on homes, offices and factories through the year. The Code was changed in 2021 to allow machine-made flags and polyester, and in 2022 to allow display day and night in open or residential settings. The Bureau of Indian Standards sets manufacturing specifications, and KVIC allots manufacturing rights.
Exam angle
- Dates to remember: 22 July 1947 for adoption.
- The chakra is navy blue with 24 spokes, drawn from the Sarnath Lion Capital.
- Article 51A(a) makes respect for the flag a fundamental duty.