Flag Code

Flag Code

Subject: Polity

What is the Flag Code and how has it been changed recently?

Context: The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated December 30, 2021

What is Flag Code?

The Flag Code of India took effect on January 26, 2002

The use, display and hoisting of the National Flag in the country is guided by Flag Code of India 2002

It brings together all laws, conventions, practices, and instructions for the display of the National Flag

As per Clause 2.1 of the Flag Code of India, there shall be no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of the general public, private organizations, educational institutions etc

Recent amendment:

The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated December 30, 2021

National Flag made of polyester or machine made flag have also been allowed under the amendment

Now, the National Flag shall be made of hand-spun, hand-woven or machine-made cotton / polyester / wool / silk / khadi bunting, as per the amended flag code

The amended flag code will facilitate the availability of flags on such a large scale and also make them affordable for the general public

Background:

National Flag of India:

The rectangular tricolor flag consists of three equal horizontal segments, with saffron on top, white in the middle and green at the bottom

At the center of the white stripe is a depiction of Ashok Chakra in navy blue

The dimension of the flag should be of 2:3 ratio, i.e. the length should be 1.5 times the breadth

The flag is to be made from Khadi, hand-woven cotton or silk, following the manufacturing protocols laid out by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

The Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission hold the right to manufacture the Indian National flag and as of 2009, the responsibility lies with the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha

The colors and symbols of the Indian National flag hold deep philosophical meaning

The saffron stands for sacrifice and renunciation, the white stands for peace and the green stands for courage and immortality

The Ashok Chakra is a depiction of Dharma Chakra. It has 24 spokes radiating from the center. It represents righteousness, justice and forwardness.

The symbolism of wheel is that of constant movement that heralds progress and repels stagnation.

Another underlying symbolism of the three colors is based on the secular principles of India as a country. The saffron represents Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, the white is for Christianity and the green stands for Islam.

The flag as a whole represents a confluence of all religious principles, but above all a philosophy of tolerance and righteousness as depicted by the Ashok Chakra in the middle.

The first unofficial flag to be hoisted by the Indians happened on August 7, 1906, in Parsee Bagan, Calcutta.

In 1921, Gandhi proposed a tricolored flag with the symbol of the spinning wheel at its center.

The version of the flag closest to the current one came into existence in 1923. It was designed by Pingali Venkayya and had the saffron, white and green stripes with the spinning wheel placed in the white section.

It was hoisted on April 13, 1923 in Nagpur during an event commemorating the Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre.

It was named the Swaraj Flag and became the symbol of India’s demand for Self-rule led by the Indian National Congress.

The resolution to adopt the tricolor as the National Flag of India was passed in 1931.

On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Swaraj Flag as the National Flag of Sovereign India with the Ashok Chakra replacing the spinning wheel.