Indian National Flag
The National Flag of India is termed as ‘Tiranga’ meaning tricolor. It is in triangular shape with three colors, deep saffron at the top, white in the center and green at the bottom. In between the white area, exactly at the center is Ashoka Chakra, 24-spoke wheel in navy blue color. The basis of an Indian Flag is the Swaraj Flag, which is a Flag designed by Pingali Venkayya for Indian National Congress.
It is pertinent to mention that this form of Indian Flag became official on 22 July 1947.
As per law, the cloth to be used for making of the Flag should be Khadi, a hand spun cloth of cotton. Mahatma Gandhi, the political leader of India always encouraged the use of Khadi in India. The law governing on usage of Indian National Flag changed where a citizen was also given right of usage of Flag under certain permissible rules and guidelines. Flag code of India, 2002 governs how one should use and display it. Any violations to the same can invite a punishment up to three years or a fine or both by law.
British rulers of India designed the first Flag of India. However in 1921, Mahatma Gandhi introduced the concept of change of design of Indian National Flag. He proposed to add a spinning wheel at the center. The final acceptance of the National Flag came on 22 July 1947 only.
BIS or Bureau of Indian Standard regulates the design and manufacturing process of the National Flag. The specifications keep amending from time to time.
Half-mast is a concept followed only by Indian National Flag. The Flag is lowered from its original height and flown like this. This is defined as a sign of mourning. Half-mast is observed on the death of prominent personality where the whole nation mourns at such a great loss. There is a proper process to do half-mast. Firstly, the Flag is raised to the top as per the normal height than it is slowly lowered. Also, during the funerals of military or Para military forces, the National Flag is wrapped over the soldier’s coffin with the saffron color towards their head but the Flag is not allowed to be lowered into the grave or to be burnt.
Apart from it, there is a regulation that every time an Indian National Flag is flown along with the Flags of other nations within India, the Indian Flag should be the starting point i.e. if we place all the flags in a straight line, the right most flag should be an Indian flag followed by the flags of other countries in an alphabetical order.
Indians likewise elsewhere has a huge respect towards their National Flag.