Flag Code of India
The Flag Code of India allows the unrestricted display of the Tricolour, provided the honour and dignity of the flag are respected. It does not replace earlier laws, but consolidates all existing rules, conventions and practices related to the national flag.
Structure of the Flag Code
It is divided into three parts:
- General description of the Tricolour
- Rules for display by public and private bodies and educational institutions
- Rules for display by governments and government bodies
Key Provisions
- The Tricolour cannot be used for commercial purposes
- It cannot be dipped in salute to any person or thing
- It cannot be used as festoon or for decorative purposes
- For official display, only flags conforming to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications and bearing its mark can be used
What is the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign?
- Har Ghar Tiranga is a campaign under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage citizens to bring the national flag home and hoist it as part of the 75th year of India’s independence.
- The initiative aims to transform the relationship with the flag from being merely formal and institutional to personal and participatory, while promoting patriotism, national unity and awareness about the Tricolour.
India’s National Flag: Historical Evolution
- 1906: First national flag with red, yellow and green stripes hoisted at Parsee Bagan Square, Calcutta
- 1921: Pingali Venkayya proposed a flag design to Mahatma Gandhi
- 1931: Tricolour adopted at the Congress Committee meeting in Karachi
- 1947: Present form adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947
Laws Governing the National Flag
Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950
- Restricts improper use of:
- National flag
- State emblem
- Official seals
- Ashoka Chakra
- Pictorial representations of national leaders
- Recent Amendments:
- The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended in 2021 allowing polyester or machine made Flag and again in 2022 allowing flag to be flown day and night.
- The National Flag shall be rectangular in shape. The Flag can be of any size but the ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3:2.
Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
- Prohibits insult or desecration of:
- National Flag
- Constitution of India
- National Anthem
- Indian map
- Anyone who, in a public place or visible to the public, disrespects or brings into contempt the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India through burning, mutilating, defacing, disfiguring, destroying, trampling, or any other act (including spoken or written words), will be punished with up to three years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Significance
- Balances citizens’ rights with respect for national symbols
- Strengthens constitutional nationalism
- Links patriotism with civic responsibility and legal discipline
Conclusion
India’s framework governing the national flag reflects a balance between democratic participation and constitutional restraint, ensuring that citizens’ engagement with the Tricolour is rooted in respect, dignity and national unity.
