National Flag Adoption Day

• 22 July was observed as National Flag Adoption day
• The day is celebrated because the Tricolour was adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947.
• On January 26, 2002, the flag code was modified to allow the citizens of India to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day.

About National flag:

• The national flag is a horizontal Tricolor of deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion.
• Each colour of the flag has a meaning. The saffron represents strength and courage, the white indicates peace and truth with the Dharma Chakra, and green shows fertility, growth and auspiciousness.
• The government-prescribed ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three.
• In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra.
• Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka (called the Dharma Chakra).
• Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.
• According to government website, the first national flag is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Kolkata.
• The flag was composed of three horizontal strips of red, yellow and green.

Flag code of India:

• The Flag Code of India, 2002 is a compilation of all the laws, conventions, practices, instructions and guidelines that govern the display of the National Flag.
• National Flag should be rectangular in shape with a length to width ratio of 3:2.
• There is no restriction on the display of National Flag by members of the general public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc., provided they follow all the prescribed rules.
• The following important things have to be kept in mind:

1. The flag should not be used for commercial purposes
2. The flag should not be dipped to salute any person
3. The flag should not be used as a portion of costume or uniform. It should not be embroidered or printed on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or any dress material
4. No lettering of any kind should be put on the flag
5. The flag should not be used as a receptacle for receiving, delivering, holding or carrying anything
6. The flag should not be intentionally displayed with ‘saffron’ down
7. The flag should not be used to cover a speaker’s desk and it should not be draped over a speaker’s platform
8. A damaged or dishevelled flag should not be used
9. The flag should only be displayed from sun-rise to sun-set