“Tricolor Triumph: Symbol of India’s Unity and Pride”

By Suvro Sanyal.

The National Flag of India, also known as Tricolour or Tiranga, is a symbol of the Nation’s unity, diversity, and rich cultural heritage. With its vibrant hues of Saffron, White and Green, the Indian flag stands as a representative of the country’s values, aspirations, and progress.

Design and Symbolism –

The Indian National Flag consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width.

• The top stripe is Saffron – signifying courage, sacrifice, and selflessness. It reflects the spirit of the people of India, who have always been ready to make sacrifices for the Nation’s Welfare.

• The middle stripe is White – representing Truth, Purity, and Peace. It also signifies the inclusion of all religions and communities, highlighting India’s diverse and harmonious culture.

A Navy-Blue Ashoka Chakra with 24 Spokes is located at the Centre of the White stripe. The Chakra embodies righteousness, progress and the perpetuity of life alongwith underscoring the nations efforts towards self-realisation and self-discovery.

• The bottom stripe is Green – symbolising fertility, growth, and auspiciousness. It reflects India’s agricultural heritage and its commitment to sustainable development.

Flag Code Act, 1971 –

This Act being primarily attributed as The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Accordingly,

” 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 any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both”.

Illustration 1: – 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.

Illustration 2: – The expression “public place” means any place intended for use by, or accessible to, the public and Includes any public conveyance.

Illustration 3: – The disrespect to the Indian National Flag means and includes —

• a gross affront or indignity offered to the Indian National Flag; or

• dipping the Indian National Flag in salute to any person or thing; or

• flying the Indian National Flag at half-mast except on occasions on which the Indian National Flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government; or

(d) 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;

(e) using the Indian National Flag,

(i) as a portion of costume, uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person; or

(ii) by embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material; or

(f) putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian National Flag; or

(g) 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; or

(h) using the Indian National Flag as covering for a statute 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; or

(j) 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; or

(k) using the Indian National Flag as a covering for a building; or

(l) intentionally displaying the Indian National Flag with the “Saffron” down.

Size and Dimensions –

The Flag Code of India outlines the specifications for the size and dimensions of the National Flag to ensure uniformity and respect for the Flag’s dignity.

The Flag’s proportions are as follows:

Width to Length Ratio: The width of the flag is two-third of its length. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is 2:3.

Size options: The Flag Code of India has specified various sizes for the National Flag, based on their use and displays:

Sr. No.	Size of National Flag (Cm)	Size of Ashoka Chakra (Cm)	Size of Pole(Cm)	Usage
1	630 X 420	129.50	1100 Flag Pole	Sporting events and as back drops for stages.
2	360 X 240	74.00	900 Flag Pole	Used by Cheer Leaders who perform up and down in a Sporting Event.
3	270 X 180	55.50	700 – 800 Flag Pole	Sporting Events where supporters can hang the flag around the stadiums.
4	180 X 120	37.00	650 Flag Pole	For hoisting by Government Functionary.
5	135 X 90	28.00	600 Flag Pole	Business & Company flag poles, flown outside private homes, used in schools, clubs.
6	90 X 60	18.50	House Mounted Flag Pole	Used as garden flags. As hand flags they are ideal for use at sporting events and as promotional gifts.
7	45 X 30	09.00		VVIP Aircrafts
8	22.50 X 15.00	04.00		Motor Cars
9	15 X 10	02.50		Table Flags

Diameter of Ashoka Chakra:  It should be Three-Fourth of the White stripe’s width. The Ashoka Chakra is centered on the White stripe, equidistant from the top and bottom edges.

As per the Flag Code Act, 1971, the Indian Tricolour is to be made of Khadi; a special type of hand-spun cloth or silk, made popular by Mahatma Gandhi.

The manufacturing process and specifications for the flag are laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The right to manufacture the flag is held by the Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission – a statutory body formed in April 1957 by the Government of India, under the Act of Parliament, ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’. It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

Amendments of Flag Code Act, 1971 –

In 2002, on hearing an appeal from the Member of The Parliament, and noted Industrialist & Social Activist, Mr. Naveen Jindal, the Supreme Court of India directed the Government of India to amend the code, facilitating the usage of the National Flag by private citizens.

Subsequently, the Union Cabinet of India then amended the Indian Flag Code with effect from 26^th. January 2002, allowing private citizens to hoist the flag on any day of the year, subject to their safeguarding the dignity, honour and respect of the flag.

It is also held that the code was not a statute and restrictions under the code ought to be followed; also, the right to fly the flag is a qualified right, unlike the absolute rights guaranteed to citizens, and should be interpreted in the context of Article 19 of the Constitution of India.

The code was further amended in 2005 allowing some additional use including adaptations on certain forms of clothing. National Flag made of polyester or machine-made Flags have been allowed.  Now, the National Flag of India shall be made of hand spun and hand woven or machine made, cotton/polyester/wool/silk khadi bunting.

Further, it has been brought to notice of the Ministry of Home Affairs, that on the occasions of important national, cultural and sports events, the National Flags made of plastic are also being used in place of National Flags made of paper. Since, plastic flags are not easily biodegradable like paper flags, these do not get decomposed for a long time and ensuring appropriate disposal of National Flags made of plastic commensurate with dignity of the flag, is a practical problem. The Advisory asks that on the occasions of important national, cultural and sports events, Flags made of paper only are used by public in terms of the provisions of the ‘Flag Code of India, 2002’ and such paper Flags are not discarded or thrown on the ground after the event. Such Flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the Flag. It is requested to give wide publicity, for not using the National Flag made of plastic.

Continued………

Mavericknews30 has launched a series of article starting with History of Flags and featuring ” Know Your National Flag”, in anticipation of Independence Day on August 15th, Stay tuned for the next article!

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