Everything You Need to Know About the Flag Code of India

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently issue an advisory to all the State/UT governments to create awareness about the rules governing the display of the National Flag, in a bid to promote awareness about the Flag Code of India.

By Factly

October 21, 2016

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. Knowingly or unknowingly, many citizens violate the Flag Code. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories to ensure strict compliance of the Flag Code on important national events.

Size & Shape of the National Flag

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Image Source: Flickr

The National Flag should be rectangular in shape with a length to width ratio of 3:2.

There are various standard sizes of the national flag, prescribed by the Flag Code and citizens must choose an appropriate size for display.

450X300 mm size is to be used for aircrafts on VVIP flights, 225X150 mm size for motor-cars and 150X100 mm size for table flags.

Rules governing Display of National Flag by Citizens and, Private and Educational Organizations

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:

The flag should not be used for commercial purposes
The flag should not be dipped to salute any person
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
No lettering of any kind should be put on the flag
The flag should not be used as a receptacle for receiving, delivering, holding or carrying anything
The flag should not be intentionally displayed with ‘saffron’ down
The flag should not be used to cover a speaker’s desk and it should not be draped over a speaker’s platform
A damaged or dishevelled flag should not be used
The flag should only be displayed from sun-rise to sun-set

Display over Public Buildings/Official Residences

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Image Source: Wikipedia

The National Flag should be flown only on important public buildings such as High Courts, Secretariats, Commissioners’ Offices, Collectorates, Jails and offices of the District Boards, Municipalities and Zilla Parishads, and Departmental/Public Sector Undertakings.

The flag shall be flown on these buildings on all days, including Sundays, and will be flown from sun-rise to sun-set irrespective of weather conditions

The National Flag should be flown on the official residences of the President, Vice- President, Governors and Lieutenant Governors when they are at Headquarters, and on the building in which they stay during their visits to places outside the Headquarters.

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Display on Motor Cars

The privilege of flying the National Flag on motor cars is limited to the following:

When a foreign dignitary travels in a car provided by Government, the National Flag will be flown on the right side of the car and the flag of the foreign country will be flown on the left side of the car.

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Avoid Plastic Flags; Choose Paper Flags

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Image Source: Flickr

The MHA has advised avoiding the use of plastic flags since plastic flags are not biodegradable like paper flags and do not get decomposed for a long time. Moreover, ensuring appropriate disposal of National Flags made of plastic commensurate with dignity of the flag, is a practical problem. Flags made of paper can be used by public and such paper flags should not be discarded or thrown on the ground after the event. Such Flags are to be disposed of, in private, consistent with the dignity of the Flag.

Insult to the National Flag will attract a prison term of 3 years

As per Section 2 of ‘The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’– 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 of it, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine, or with both.

Written by Rakesh Dubbudu for Factly and republished here in arrangement with Factly.