Flag Code of India – Interesting Facts
It governs the display of the National Flag by Private, Public, and Government Institutions.
It includes provisions under Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950 and Prevention of Insult to National honour Act 1971 and other conventions and practices.
Any person, organization, private or public, or educational institution (including scout camps) can hoist or display the Tricolour on “all days or occasions in accordance with the dignity and honour of the National Flag”.
After an amendment on December 30, 2021, the material of the flag has been decided as “handspun and handwoven or machine-made, cotton, polyester, wool, silk or khadi bunting”.
The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated 20th July, 2022 and clause (xi) of paragraph 2.2 of Part-II of the Flag Code of India was replaced by the following clause: “where the Flag is displayed in open or displayed on the house of a member of public, it may be flown day and night.
The National Flag shall not be displayed in an inverted manner; i.e.; the saffron band should not be the bottom band.
A damaged or disheveled National Flag shall not be displayed.
The National Flag shall not be dipped in salute to any person or thing.
No other flag or bunting shall be placed higher than or above or side by side with the National Flag; nor shall any object including flowers or garlands, or emblem be placed on or above the flagmast from which the National Flag is flown.
The National Flag shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in the water.
The National Flag shall not be displayed or fastened in any manner as may damage it.
The National Flag should not be flown from a single masthead (top part of a flagpole) simultaneously with any other flag or flags.
The National Flag shall not be used to cover a speaker’s desk, nor shall it be draped over a speaker’s platform. The National Flag shall not be used as a portion of costume or uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person nor shall it be embroidered or printed on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material.
The National Flag cannot be flown on any vehicle except those of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governor and other dignitaries like Chief Ministers, judges of Supreme Court and High Court, Speaker and Chiarman of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha respectively.
The flag should also not be used to cover the sides, back, and top of any vehicle.
There shall be no lettering upon the National Flag.
The National Flag shall not be used to wrap, receive, or deliver things.
When the National Flag is displayed in a straight line with flags of other countries, the National Flag shall be on the extreme right.
The flags of other nations will follow in an alphabetical order as per the English versions of names of the nations.
The Tricolour should not be stored in a way that might dirty or damage it.
In case your flag is damaged, the Flag Code instructs you not to cast it aside or treat it disrespectfully but “destroy it as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any method consistent with the dignity of the flag”....