Facts about Indian Flag (Flag code of India)

General

A-The National Flag shall be a tri-colour panel made up of three rectangular panels or subpanels

of equal widths. The colour of the top panel shall be India saffron (Kesari) and that of the

bottom panel shall be India green. The middle panel shall be white, bearing at its centre the design of

Ashoka Chakra in navy blue colour with 24 equally spaced spokes. The Ashoka Chakra shall

preferably be screen printed or otherwise printed or stenciled or suitably embroidered and shall be

completely visible on both sides of the Flag in the centre of the white panel.

B-The National Flag of India shall be made of hand spun and hand woven wool/cotton/silk

khadi bunting.

C- The National Flag shall be rectangular in shape. The ratio of the length to the height (width)

of the Flag shall be 3:2.

D- The standard sizes of the National Flag shall be as follows:-

1 6300 X 4200

2 3600 X 2400

3 2700 X 1800

4 1800 X 1200

5 1350 X 900

6 900 X 600

7 450 X 300

8 225 X 150

9 150 X 100

E- An appropriate size should be chosen for display. The flags of 450X300 mm size are intended for aircrafts on VVIP flights, 225X150 mm size for motor-cars and 150X100 mm size for table flags.

**THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT, 1971

(Amended by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2003)

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.

Explanation 1. – Comments expressing disapprobation or criticism of the ………Indian National Flag

or an alteration of the Indian National Flag by lawful means do not constitute an offence under this

section.

Explanation 2. – 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.

Explanation 3. – The expression "Public place" means any place intended for use by, or accessible to,

the public and includes any public conveyance.

Explanation 4. – The disrespect to the Indian National Flag means and includes-

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

(b) dipping the Indian National Flag in salute to any person or thing; or

(c) flying the Indian National Flag at half-mast except on occasions on which the 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; or

(e) using the Indian National Flag as a portion of costume or uniform of any description or

embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins 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 Independences Day;

or

(h) using the Indian National Flag as covering for a statue or a monument or a speaker's desk

or a speaker's platform; or

(i) 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.

3A. MINIMUM PENALTY ON SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE

Whoever having already been convicted of an offence under section 2………. is again

convicted of any such offence shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent

offence, with imprisonment for a term, which shall not be less than one year.

(iii) the Flag shall not be flown at half-mast except on occasions on which the Flag is

flown at half-mast on public buildings in accordance with the instructions issued by

the Government;

(iv) the Flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever, including private

funerals;

(v) the Flag shall not be used as a portion of costume or uniform of any description nor

shall it be embroidered or printed upon cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or any dress

material;

(vi) lettering of any kind shall not be put upon the Flag;

(vii) the Flag shall not be used as a receptacle for receiving, delivering, holding or carrying

anything;

provided that there shall be no objection to keeping flower petals inside the Flag

before it is unfurled as part of celebrations on special occasions and on National Days

like the Republic Day and the Independence Day;

(viii) when used on occasions like unveiling of a statue, the Flag shall be displayed

distinctly and separately and it shall not be used as a covering for the statue or

monument;

(ix) the Flag shall not be used to cover a speaker’s desk nor shall it be draped over a

speaker’s platform;

(x) the Flag shall not be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in

water;

(xi) the Flag shall not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle, train, boat

or an aircraft;

(xii) the Flag shall not be used as a covering for a building; and

(xiii) the Flag shall not be intentionally displayed with the “saffron” down.

2.2 A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may

hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise. Consistent

with the dignity and honour of the National Flag -

(i) whenever the National Flag is displayed, it should occupy the position of honour and

should be distinctly placed;

(ii) a damaged or dishevelled Flag should not be displayed;

(iii) the Flag should not be flown from a single masthead simultaneously with any other

flag or flags;

(iv) the Flag should not be flown on any vehicle except in accordance with the provisions

contained in Section IX of Part III of this Code;

(v) when the Flag is displayed on a speaker’s platform, it should be flown on the

speaker’s right as he faces the audience or flat against the wall, above and behind the

speaker;

(vi) when the Flag is displayed flat and horizontal on a wall, the saffron band should be

upper most and when displayed vertically, the saffron band shall be on the right with

reference to the Flag (i.e. left to the person facing the Flag);

(vii) to the extent possible, the Flag should conform to the specifications prescribed in Part

I of this Code.

(viii) no other flag or bunting should be placed higher than or above or side by side with

the National Flag; nor should any object including flowers or garlands or emblem be

placed on or above the Flag-mast from which the Flag is flown;

(ix) the Flag should not be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting or in any other manner for

decoration;

(x) the Flag made of paper may be waved by public on occasions of important national,

cultural and sports events. However, such paper Flags should not be discarded or

thrown on the ground after the event. As far as possible, it should be disposed of in

private consistent with the dignity of the Flag;

(xi) where the Flag is displayed in open, it should, as far as possible, be flown from

sunrise to sunset, irrespective of weather conditions;

(xii) the Flag should not be displayed or fastened in any manner as may damage it; and

(xiii) when the Flag is in a damaged or soiled condition, it shall be destroyed as a whole in

private, preferably by burning or by any other method consistent with the dignity of

the Flag.

2.3 The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports

camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. A model set of instructions for

guidance is given below -

(i) The School will assemble in open square formation with pupils forming the three

sides and the Flag-staff at the centre of the fourth side. The Headmaster, the pupil

leader and the person unfurling the Flag (if other than the Headmaster) will stand three

paces behind the Flag-staff.

(ii) The pupils will fall according to classes and in squads of ten (or other number

according to strength). These squads will be arranged one behind the other. The pupil

leader of the class will stand to the right of the first row of his class and the form

master will stand three paces behind the last row of his class, towards the middle. The

classes will be arranged along the square in the order of seniority with the seniormost

class at the right end.

(iii) The distance between each row should be at least one pace (30 inches); and the space

between Form and Form should be the same.

(iv) When each Form or Class is ready, the Class leader will step forward and salute the

selected school pupil leader. As soon as all the Forms are ready, the school pupil

leader will step up to the Headmaster and salute him. The Headmaster will return the

salute. Then, the Flag will be unfurled. The School pupil leader may assist.

(v) The School pupil leader in charge of the parade (or assembly) will call the parade to

attention, just before the unfurling, and he will call them to the salute when the Flag

flies out. The parade will keep at the salute for a brief interval, and then on the

command “order”, the parade will come to the attention position.

(vi) The Flag Salutation will be followed by the National Anthem. The parade will be

kept at the attention during this part of the function.

(vii) On all occasions when the pledge is taken, the pledge will follow the National

Anthem. When taking the pledge the Assembly will stand to attention and the

Headmaster will administer the pledge ceremoniously and the Assembly will repeat it

after him.

(viii) In pledging allegiance to the National Flag, the practice to be adopted in Schools is as

follows:-

Standing with folded hands, all repeat together the following pledge:

“I pledge allegiance to the National Flag and to the Sovereign Socialist Secular

Democratic Republic for which it stands.”

--

Haider Ajaz

Advocate