STUDY NOTE - NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA

1. National Flag

National Flag consists of three colours
a. Saffron(Kesariya) at top
b. White in the middle
c. Dark green at bottom
All three colors are in equal proportion
Ratio of width to length is 2:3.

In the centre of white band is a navy-blue wheel(chakra). The design of chakra is taken from abacus of Sarnath Lion Capitol of Ashoka.
The wheel has 24 spokes.
The design of National Flag was adopted by India on 22nd July 1947.
National Flag is governed by Provisions of
a. Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and
b. Prevention to Insults of National Honour Act 1971.
Flag code of India, 2002, brings together laws, conventions, practices and instructions related to national flag.
According to Flag code there is no restrictions on display of national flag by general public, private organisations, educational institutions.

2. State Emblem

It is an adaptation from Sarnath Lion Capitol of Ashoka.

It was adopted by India on 26th January 1950.

It has three lions, wheel at centre of the abacus, bull of right, horse on left and outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left.

The words 'Satyameva Jayate' are inscribed in Devanagri script at the centre of abacus.

Use of state emblem is regulated by State of India (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 2005

3. National Anthem

'Jana Gana Mana' was adopted by in its Hindi version as National Anthem of India on 24th January 1950.

It was originally composed in Bengali by Rabidranath Tagore.

It was first sung on 27th December 1911 at Kolkata Session of Indian National Congress.

It has 5 stanzas. The duration of national anthem is approximately 52 seconds.

4. National Song

Vande Mataram is national Song of India.
It was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji.
It was first sung at 1896 session of Indian National Congress.
It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana.

5. National Calender

National Calender is based on Saka Era. It has Chaitra as its first month and normal year of 365 days.
1st Chaitra falls on 22nd March in a normal year and on 21st March in a leap year.
National Calendar was adopted on 22nd March 1957 along with Gregorian Calendar for

• Gazette of India
• News broadcast by all India Radio
• Calendars issued by government
• Government communications addressed to public.