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| − | =NATIONAL FLAG=
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| − | THE National flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white
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| − | in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width
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| − | of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue
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| − | wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on
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| − | the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the
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| − | width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. The design of the National Flag was
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| − | adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947.
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| − | Apart from non-statutory instructions issued by the Government from time
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| − | to time, display of the National Flag is governed by the provisions of the Emblems
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| − | and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (No. 12 of 1950) and the
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| − | Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (No. 69 of 1971). The Flag Code
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| − | of India, 2002 is an attempt to bring together all such laws, conventions, practices
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| − | and instructions for the guidance and benefit of all concerned.
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| − | The Flag Code of India, 2002, took effect from 26 January 2002 and supercedes
| + | [[Category:Government|NTHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIATHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA |
| − | the ‘Flag Code-India' as it existed then. As per the provisions of the Flag Code of
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| − | India, 2002, there is no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members
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| − | of general public, private organisations, educational institutions, etc., except as
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| − | provided for in the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950
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| − | and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and any other law enacted
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| − | on the subject.
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| − | == Making of National Flag ==
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| − | [http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/making-of-national-flag/ K B Jandial , Making of National Flag "Daily Excelsior" 22/7/2017]
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| − | Today is the 70th anniversary of India’s National Flag. On this day in 1947, the national Constituent Assembly adopted the Tricolor as a Flag for independent India which was yet to born 24 days later.
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| − | Every nation has its national flag which is a symbol of its freedom. India too got a National Flag, popularly called Triranga, which represents the hopes and aspirations of its people. It is the symbol of our national pride. The Triranga served as the national flag of the Dominion of India from 15th August 1947 and on 26th January 1950, it became the flag of f the Republic of India. Fluttering Tiranga generates a common feeling of oneness and pride among the people.
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| − | Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi had explained the necessity of an appropriate flag for an independent country saying, “The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam.” He had said,”It will be necessary for us Indians Hindus, Muslims, Christians Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their home to recognize a common flag to live and to die for.”
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| − | Since Independence, thousands of people including armed forces have ungrudgingly laid down their lives to keep the Tricolour flying in its full glory.
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| − | The Tiranga as it is often called has three horizontal bars of deep saffron (Kesari) at the top indicating the strength and courage of the country, white in the middle represents peace and truth and dark green at the bottom shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band has a navy blue wheel taken from the abacus of the Sarnath Lion made by the 3rd-century BC Emperor Ashoka. This Dharma Chakra depicted the “wheel of the law”. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. It is made only from khadi, domestically spun Indian cotton, as a symbol of nationalism and freedom.
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| − | The Tricolour has a long history. Its evolution sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. In one way it reflects the political developments in the nation. Each of the milestones in the evolution of our National Flag represented a historical event. The first flag in its evolution is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta. The flag was composed of three horizontal strips of red, yellow and green. The top red strip had 8 lotuses and the bottom green had crescent and sun. The second one was the one that was hoisted in Paris by Bhikaji Cama and her band of exiled revolutionaries in 1907. This was very similar to the first flag except that the top strip had only one lotus but seven stars denoting the Saptarishi. The third flag went up in 1917 when Indian political struggle had taken a decisive turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home Rule movement. This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent and star in one corner.
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| − | During All India Congress Committee session at Bezwada (now Vijayawada) in 1921 an Andhra youth Pingali Venkayya who had designed a flag, took it to Mahatma Gandhi who liked it. It was of two colours-red and green. Gandhi ji suggested the addition of a white strip and the spinning wheel to symbolize progress of the nation. The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag as resolution was passed adopting Tricolor flag as our national flag. This flag, the forbear of the present one, was saffron, white and green with Mahatma Gandhi’s spinning wheel at the center. It was, however, clearly stated that the colours bore no communal significance and were to be interpreted as such.
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| − | Navy blue colour of the Chakra in the centre of the flag indicates the most truth of the universe and it represents the colour of sky and ocean. While the chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation and as such, the nation shall keep moving towards progress and prosperity pacing with technological advancement.
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| − | Despite good intention and sincere efforts, some elements did try to create controversy over the flag. Some linked these 24 spokes to Hindu mythology that talks about 24 noble Indian values. These are Love, Courage, Patience, Peacefulness, Magnanimity, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Selflessness, Self-Control, Self Sacrifice, Truthfulness, Righteousness, Justice, Mercy, Gracefulness, Humility, Empathy, Sympathy, Spiritual Knowledge, Moral Values, Spiritual Knowledge, Moral Values, Spiritual Wisdom, Fear of God and Faith.
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| − | There are some who attribute 24 spokes to 24 precious hours of the day (Samay Chakra) while others link these to Puranas. The Chakra is said to represent 24 Hindu Dharma Rishis who wielded power of the “Gayatri Mantra”, each Rishi representing each of the letters of the Mantra.
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| − | In the Constituent Assembly, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru moved the following Resolution July 22, 1947: “Resolved that the National Flag of India shall be horizontal Tricolour of deep Saffron (Kesari), white and dark green in equal proportion. In the centre of the white band, there shall be a Wheel in navy blue to represent the Charkha. The design of the Wheel shall be that of the Wheel (Chakra) which appears in the abacus of the Sarnath, Lion Capital of Asoka. The diameter of the Wheel shall approximate to the width of the white band. The ratio of the width to the length of the Flag shall ordinarily be 2:3.”
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| − | In his passionate speech Nehru said that, “Some people having misunderstood its significance have thought of it in communal terms and believe that some part of it represents this community or that. But, I may say that when this flag was devised there was no communal significance attached to it.We thought of a design for a Flag which was beautiful, because the symbol of a nation must be beautiful to look at. We thought of a Flag which would in its combination and in its separate parts would somehow represent the spirit of the nation, the tradition of the nation, that mixed spirit and tradition which has grown up through thousands of years in India. So, we devised this Flag.”
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| − | On replacing Gandhiji’s charkha by Ashoka Charkha in the Flag, Nehru said, “Normally speaking, the symbol on one side-of the Flag should be exactly the same as on the other side. Otherwise, there is a difficulty which goes against the rules. Now, the Charkha, as it appeared previously on this Flag, had the wheel on one side and the spindle on the other. If you see the other side of the Flag, the spindle comes the other way and the wheel comes this way; if it does not do so, it is not proportionate, because the wheel must be towards the pole, not towards the end of the Flag. There was this practical difficulty”.
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| − | The significance of the colours and the chakra in the National Flag was aptly described by the philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnanin the Constituent Assembly. He explained-“Bhagwa or the saffron colour denotes renunciation or disinterestedness. Our leaders must be indifferent to material gains and dedicate themselves to their work. The white in the centre is light, the path of truth to guide our conduct. The green shows our relation to soil, our relation to the plant life on which all other life depends. The Ashoka wheel in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of dharma; truth or satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principles of those who work under this flag. Again, the wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change.”
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| − | The Govt enacted laws to regulate hoisting of the Flag through statutory and non-statutory instructions issued by the Govt from time to time. It was also governed by the Emblems & Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Making The National Flag as a proud national emblem of every Indian, the Parliament enacted The Flag code Of India, 2002 which was effective from 26th January 2002 that superseded the earlier Flag Code-India. The new Code is very comprehensive document covers all provisions relating to the National Flag. It has three parts. Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc. Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.
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| − | After several years of independence, the proud citizens of India were allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National days as used to be done earlier. Now, Indians can proudly display the Tricolour anywhere and anytime during day, subject to the provisions of the Flag Code without any disrespect to the Tricolour. Some basic do’s and don’ts include hoisting of the National Flag in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. An oath of allegiance has been included in the flag hoisting in schools; a member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag; Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises; the flag cannot be used for commercial gains, drapery, or clothes: as far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather; the flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water and not be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft; no other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag.
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| − | ===Imported/ non- khadi flags===
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| − | [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/16&entity=Ar02016&sk=E61ADC45&mode=text Sidhartha , Oct 16, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
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| − | It isn’t just Chinese LED lights and Ganesh and Lakshmi idols that are hurting Indian manufacturers, even the Indian tricolour shipped from across the border have hit Indian players, and also violated the Flag Code, prompting the government to ban their imports into the country.
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| − | In a notification, the directorate general of foreign trade, prohibited import of the Indian national flag “not adhering to specifications prescribed” in the Flag Code of India.
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| − | The Code prescribes that the tricolour can only be made of hand spun and hand woven wool, cotton, silk khadi “bunting” — allowing only the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to manufacture national flags. Most of the flags you might have seen being sold at traffic crossings or outside your kid’s school are either made of plastic or non-khadi fabric, resulting in a decline in sales by KVIC, which petitioned commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal last month to ban the import of flags from China and other countries. KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena had argued that the “blatant violation of the Flag Code” was impacting the livelihood of many.
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| − | During 2017-18, KVIC’s flag sales were estimated at Rs 3.7 crore, which declined 14% to Rs 3.2 crore in 2018-19. In the first half of the current fiscal, sales were estimated at under Rs 2 crore.
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| | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] | | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] |
| − | [[Category:India|N | + | [[Category:India|NTHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIATHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA |
| | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] | | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] |
| − | [[Category:Name|ALPHABET | + | [[Category:Name|ALPHABETTHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIATHE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA |
| | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] | | THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] |
| − | | + | [[Category:Pages with broken file links|THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA]] |
| − | ==The significance of the tricolour==
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| − | [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=LEGALLY-SPEAKING-Are-citizens-aware-of-the-Tricolours-28092015011010 ''The Times of India''], Sep 28 2015 | + | |
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| − | Dhananjay Mahapatra
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| − | '''Are citizens aware of the Tricolour's true significance?'''
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| − | Citizens have always had an emotional, patriotic connect with the national flag. This connect was heightened by tales of glory weaved around the daredevilry of Indian soldiers in hoisting the flag atop re-captured heights of Kargil after evicting Pakistani invaders.
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| − | The controversy over PM Narendra Modi signing a “tricolour“ was not without fire. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 [amended by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2003] provides that “putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian national flag“ would constitute disrespect to it. But did Modi mean disrespect to the national flag?
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| − | The flag code says the national flag should be made of hand-spun and hand-woven woolcottonsilk khadi bunting. It is rectangular in shape should have a length to breadth ratio of 3:2. We all feel patriotic when we buy those small plastic national flags from roadside vendors on the eve of Independence Day and Republic Day . Are we too guilty of disrespecting the national flag?
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| − | The Supreme Court had dealt with an interesting case relating to alleged disrespect to the national by a police officer in 1959. The incident happened in Mughalsarai police station on Independence Day of 1955.
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| − | A mob of 3,000 persons, mostly students, gheraoed the police station demanding the national flag atop the building be flown at half-mast in respect of students killed in police firing in Patna. Station house officer Avadh Narain Singh was short of manpower to tackle a surging crowd. He sought reinforcements. But seniors told him to handle the situation `tactfully'.
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| − | As the crowd grew impatient, the SHO was caught in a dilemma. Lowering the national flag on Independence Day would surely invite disciplinary action. On the other hand, violent elements were egging on the crowd to attack the police station. The SHO made a quick decision and flew the flag halfmast from 8 am to 11 am. The crowd dispersed and the situation was defused. The seniors appreciated Singh's `tactful' handling of the situation.
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| − | Soon, the situation changed dramatically as the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru in a speech said “no insult to the national flag will be tolerated“. Immediately , Singh's superiors took adverse note of the national flag being flown half-mast on Independence Day . The `tactful' handling was brushed aside. Singh was found guilty and demoted two ranks. He challenged the decision in the Supreme Court. The SC in Avadh Narain Singh vs Additional Superintendent of Police [AIR 1960 SC 304] said, “To decide whether it amounts to insult or not, one must look to the circumstances in which and the motive with which the flag was lowered.“ The SC concluded that Singh had meant no disrespect to the national flag and asked the police department to pay a cost of Rs 300 to him.
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| − | The moot question is: Did the PM mean disrespect to the flag by putting his signature on it? Literal application of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act would make him guilty of inscrib ing the national flag. But as the SC judgment in Avadh Narain Singh case tells us, we must look whether the circumstances and intention pointed to a deliberate disrespect to the flag.
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| − | Inclusion of saffron colour in the flag too was objected to by some members of the flag committee, which was constituted on June 23, 1947.It decided the size, shape and colours of the national flag on July 14, 1947.
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| − | Dr S Radhakrishnan had clarified that colours adopted in the flag had no communal significance. He had said, “Bhagwa or the saffron colour denotes renunciation or disinterestedness. Our leaders must be indifferent to ma terial gains and dedicate themselves to their work.
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| − | “The white in the centre is light, the path of truth to guide our conduct. The green shows our relation to the soil, our relation to the plant life here on which all other life depends. The Ashoka wheel in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of dharma.Truth or satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principles of all those who work under this flag.
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| − | “Again, the wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change and hence, this deviation does not revolt against the original idea of having a spinning-wheel in the national flag.“
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| − | Are we aware of the true significance of the Tricolour as explained by Dr Radhakrishnan? Have the politicians understood and imbibed it?
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| − | The Supreme Court had held in the Naveen Jindal case [2004 (2) SCC 510] that citizens have a fundamental right to fly the national flag round the year, a privilege earlier restricted only to certain days. But flying the national flag with honour would not mean much unless we understand the duties cast on us by the vibrant colours of the national flag.
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| − | ==2018: Karnataka’s State Flag proposal==
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| − | '''See also''':
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| − | [[Karnataka: political history]]
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| − | [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F03%2F10&entity=Ar01703&sk=B725FF11&mode=text ‘K’taka’s flag proposal may create chaos’, March 10, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
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| − | A day after Karnataka unveiled its proposed state flag, a central government official said there was no precedent for a separate state flag, barring Jammu and Kashmir. However, the official said the Constitution does not have any provision against them.
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| − | Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday unveiled the proposed Karnataka flag — the ‘Nada Dwaja’ — and said his government would seek the Centre’s approval.
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| − | The Flag Code of India and State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act deal only with the national flag. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state with a separate flag, on account of the state’s special status conferred by Article 370.
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| − | The official said the Centre is apprehensive of a “chaotic situation” in case of some states, districts or even villages seek separate flags to press their identities.
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| − | Sources indicated a regulatory framework would have to be established to deal with the demand for separate state flags, in line with provisions of the law and Constitution.
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| | =Mahatma Gandhi= | | =Mahatma Gandhi= |
Revision as of 15:18, 27 January 2022
This article has been extracted from an authoritative source.
Therefore, it has been ‘locked’ and will never be thrown open to readers to edit or comment on.
After the formal launch of their online archival encyclopædia,
readers who wish to add further details can do so on a ‘Part II’ of this article.
|
The source of this article
INDIA 2012
A REFERENCE ANNUAL
Compiled by
RESEARCH, REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Mahatma Gandhi
Due respect to Gandhi’s symbols
Dipak Dash, `Don't place Gandhi symbols in dirty places', Jan 17, 2017: The Times of India
The Centre has suggested that state govern ments avoid using sketch es, photos or logos of Ma hatma Gand hi or his be longings such as his iconic spectacles, charkha or watch on walls of public toilets, garbage bins or any other places that could be considered dirty .
In a recent advisory issued to all the secretaries in-charge of sanitation, drinking water and sanitation ministry said this should be done “so that sentiment of anyone may (not) be hurt in implementing Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) programme.“
The ministry has asked the department heads to issue similar directions to all districts and other authorities concerned.
The circular was issued following a case filed by one Badruddin Qureshi in Chhattisgarh high court against the use of sketches and photos or belongings of Gandhi on walls of public toilets and “filthy“ places.
Though the court had dismissed the petition, it said, “We do not feel that this is such an infringement and disrespect to the father of the nation. But at the same time, we feel that Union of India must respond and assure on affidavit that wherever any symbol associated with Mahatma Gandhi is used, it shall be used and placed in such a fashion and that it cannot be easily defaced and should not be used in such a manner which causes disrespect to the father of the nation.“
Don't display Gandhiji's glasses on bins, in toilets: Odisha
Riyan Ramanath, Don't display Gandhiji's glasses on bins, in toilets: Govt, June 19, 2017: The Times of India
The Odisha government has directed all district collectors and urban local bodies not to use the logo of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) -meant to honour Mahatma Gandhi and his emphasis on cleanliness -in an improper manner in places like public toilets. The mission uses a logo inspired by Gandhi's famous round glasses for its countrywide campaigns.
The Odisha advisory follows the Centre's May 16 directive to all state-level directors of SBM saying guidelines issued by Chhattisgarh HC -which in January had issued a notice to the Raman Singh government to prevent pictorial illustration of Gandhi's spectacles on dustbins, public toilets and trash cans -must be observed.
SBM director in Odisha, Parameswaran B, said Gandhi's image or that of any of his other belongings, like the spinning wheel, his walking stick or watch, should not be used “on the walls of public toilets, garbage bins and other such filthy places during the SBM campaign.“ The director said there was no blanket ban on use of the logo but it should be used in a respectful manner. “District collectors will be responsible for supervision of the implementation of the guidelines,“ he said.
Indian National Flag Code
‘Only govt servant’s body can be draped in Tricolour’
Pankaj Shah, ‘Only govt servant’s body can be draped in Tricolour’, February 15, 2018: The Times of India
The Uttar Pradesh government has said that the body of a non-government person can’t be wrapped in the Tricolour as it violates the Indian National Flag Code, 2002.
The government’s move comes a fortnight after photographs of the funeral procession of Kasganj communal violence victim Chandan Gupta getting wrapped in Tricolour went viral on social media.
“The flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in State/Military/Central Paramilitary Forces funerals herein after provided. The flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever, including private funerals,” according to Section V of the Flag Code of India.
Chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath, in a written submission to the Vidhan Parishad, has also said the flag of any organization cannot be put above the national flag. VHP and Bajrang Dal men had reportedly carried saffron flags along with the Tricolour during the ‘tiranga yatra’ on Republic Day when the violence broke out.
Yogi’s submission has come in response to a query by SP legislator Shashank Yadav. On Tuesday, Yadav had raised the query, but could not be taken up for discussion as there was pandemonium over law and order and fake encounters in the state.
The constitutional and legal position
In countries with a strong commitment to the freedom of speech and expression people take a very tolerant view of the uses that their national flags and other symbols are put to.
When actress Raquel Welch wore a bikini made of the US flag, the Stars and Stripes, for Gore Vidal’s Myra Breckinridge (1970), there were some murmurs and comments, but nothing more. No one filed a police case against her or dragged her to court for insulting the national flag.
The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act
Its essence
Dipak Dash, At best, Jio could face Rs 500 fine for using PM pic in ad, Dec 03 2016 : The Times of India
The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act is administered by the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.
According to section-3 of the Act, no per son shall use any “specified“ name or emblem for the purpose of any trade, business or any such activities without the “previous permission of the central government“ or officers authorised by the government.
The list of nearly three dozens names and emblems that cannot be used without prior permission of government includes President of India, Prime Minister, governor of a state, Government of India or any state, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, United Nations Organisation, Ashok Chakra or Dharma Chakra.
Till 2016 the law governing prevention of improper use of emblems and names of 1950 provided for the rather insignificant penalty of Rs 500 for violating norms.
Major violations in 2016
Samajwadi Party MP Neeraj Shekhar raised serious questions about how the PM's photograph can be used by a private industry major to advertise its products.
i) Reliance Jio used Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph in print and electronic advertisements without permission. Minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had said in a written reply that “no permission was granted by prime minister's office“ for using Modi's photographs in the advertisements.
ii) The opposition had also questioned the PM's photographs featuring in advertisements issued by e-wallet Paytm [the biggest shareholder of which is the Chinese Alibaba] after Modi announced the demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
Shekhar had sought to know whether there was any law that permits PM from becoming a brand ambassador of a private company
Disrespecting the national flag and anthem
Up to 3 years' jail for insulting national anthem, Dec 05 2016 : The Times of India
What does the constitution say about disrespecting the national flag and anthem?
In the section on fundamental duties, the constitution states that it is the duty of every citizen of India to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions --the national flag and the national anthem. Apart from this, the constitution (application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order, 1954 stipulates that Parliament has exclusive rights to make laws with respect to insult to the Indian national flag, national anthem and the constitution.
Under what Act does a person get punished if he she has insulted the national flag or anthem?
Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, it is a punishable offence to insult the national flag and the constitution. A person can be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend to three years or with a fine or with both.Similarly , intentional prevention of singing of the national anthem or causing disturbances to an assembly engaged in such singing is also punishable for up to three years with or without fine. What actions can be seen as disrespect to the flag?
Acts like burning, mutilating, defacing, disfiguring, destroying or otherwise showing disrespect to or bringing into contempt by speeches or writing within public view are classified as showing disrespect to the flag. However, comments expressing disapproval or criticism of the flag or the constitution with a view to obtaining an amendment in the constitution o not constitute an offence under this section.Some other acts that qualify as disrespecting the flag are using the flag as drapery in any form except state funeral or funerals of armed and paramilitary forces .
What regulatory compliances are required while playing or singing the national anthem?
There are different guide lines for playing and singing the national anthem.The full version is 52 seconds, while the duration of the short version is about 20 seconds. The full version can be played during a national salute given on ceremonial occasions to the president governors and so on. The short version is played when drinking toasts in messes.
There are no restrictions on singing of the anthem as long as proper decorum is maintained. Whenever the anthem is sung or played, the audience is required to stand to attention. An order dated March 2016 however clarifies that in the course of a newsreel or documentary when the anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand.
Asian sensitiveness vs. indifference in Canada, UK, USA
The Times of India, Jan 13 2017
Insensitive display of Asian national symbols and flags in Canada, UK and USA;
The Times of India, Jan 13 2017
Angry at finding out that Amazon Canada was selling doormats that resembled the Indian tricolour, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj warned that no Amazon official would get a visa to India if the product wasn't removed. Amazon readily complied, and with an apology. But around the world, flags are put to interesting use.
STATE EMBLEM
The state emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. In the
original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a
frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and
a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a
single block of polished sandstone, the Capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law
(Dharma Chakra).
In the state emblem, adopted by the Government of India on 26th January
1950, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel
appears in relief in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left
and the outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus
has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning
'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.
The use of the state emblem of India, as the official seal of the Government of
India, is regulated by the state of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
See National Anthem: India
NATIONAL SONG
See Vande Mataram
NATIONAL CALENDAR
The national calendar based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month and a
normal year of 365 days was adopted from 22nd March 1957 along with the Gregorian
calendar for the following official purposes: (i) Gazette of India, (ii) news broadcast
by All India Radio, (iii) calendars issued by the Government of India and
(iv) Government communications addressed to the members of the public.
Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates
of the Gregorian calendar, 1 Chaitra falling on 22 March normally and on 21 March
in leap year.
NATIONALANIMAL
The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris, a striped animal is the national animal2 of
India, it has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes. The combination of grace,
strength, ability and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the
national animal of India. Out of eight races of the species known, the Indian race,
the Royal Bengal Tiger, is found throughout the country except in the north-western
region and also in the neighbouring countries, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
NATIONAL BIRD
The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, the national bird of India, is a colourful, swansized
bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a
long, slender neck. The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with
a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green trail of around 200
elongated feathers. The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male and lacks
the trail. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening
its feathers is a gorgeous sight.
HC judge on why the celibate peacock is the national bird
Justice Mahesh Chand Sharma on why the celibate peacock is the national bird
(Peacock is the national bird as it never has sex with peahen, says Raj HC judge| Jun 01 2017 | The Times of India (Delhi))
Rajasthan high court judge Mahesh Chand Sharma said that a peacock does not mate with a peahen to procreate and it was because of this “quality“ that it was declared India's national bird.
Earlier on Wednesday , his last day in office, Sharma had observed while disposing of a petition that cow should be declared the national animal.
Sharma drew a parallel between the cow and peacock to highlight their `holy' qualities. “Peacock ki bhi quality hai, vo bhi mein bata deta hun aapko kyon declare kiya. Jo mor hai ye aajeevan brahm chari hai. Ye kabhi bhi morni ke saath sex nahi karta. Iske jo aansu aate hain, morni usey chug kar garbhvati hoti hai, mor ya morni ko janm deti hai,“ he said at a function to mark his last day in office. Elaborating on how peacock is considered holy because of its so-called celibacy, Sharma said: “Mor ka pankh bhi bhagwan Krishna ne isi liye lagaya. Sadhu-santon aur mandiron mein issi liye mor ko kaam mein liya jata hai -brahmcharya hai.(Lord Krishna wore the peacock feather for this reason.The feather is used by saints and priests and in temples because peacock is a celibate.)“
NATIONAL FLOWER
Lotus (Nelumbo Nucipera Gaertn) is the National Flower of India. It is a sacred
flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India
and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.
NATIONAL TREE
The Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis) is the National Tree of India. This huge tree
towers over its neighbours and has the widest reaching roots of all known trees,
easily covering several acres. It sends off new shoots from its roots, so that one tree
is really a tangle of branches, roots, and trunks.
NATIONAL FRUIT
Mango (Manigifera indica) is the National fruit of India. Mango is one of the most
widely grown fruits of the tropical countries. In India, mango is cultivated almost
in all parts, with the exception of hilly areas. Mango is a rich source of Vitamins A,
C and D. In India, we have hundreds of varieties of mangoes. They are of different
sizes, shapes and colours. Mangoes have been cultivated in India since time
immemorial.
President/ Prime Minister’s photographs
2019: Stricter penalty for misuse
Dipak Dash, Nov 13, 2019: The Times of India
Improper or unauthorised use of photograph of Prime Minister or President for promotion of trade and business may soon attract fine of Rs 1 lakh and repeat offence Rs 5 lakh and up to six months jail. Currently, the penalty for such offences including the improper use of national emblems such as the National Flag, Ashok Chakra, official seal of Parliament, Supreme Court etc is merely Rs 500 and there is no provision for higher fine for repeat offence.
The consumer affairs ministry has proposed these changes in the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act. The current provision of meagre penalties for misuse of the emblems and names had hit the headlines after Paytm and Reliance Jio had used PM Narendra Modi’s photograph in their advertisements. Both the companies had tendered unconditional apologies for using the PM’s photograph.
In September 2016, Reliance Jio had given advertisements in all the leading newspapers having Modi’s photo to dedicate its 4G service to the government’s flagship Digital India programme. Similarly, on November 9, Paytm had welcomed the demonetisation decision through an advertisement with Prime Minister’s photograph and had urged people to start using its digital wallet service.
The proposed changes also put the onus on the defendant to prove that the any contravention or alteration was authorised by a competent authority. The changes will be made through Rules after considering the suggestions and objections, sources said.
See also
Dausa district
The National Symbols of India
National Anthem: India
National Anthem, India: Jehovah’s Witnesses
