List of Indian flags

This is a list of flags used in India. For more information about the national flag, visit the article Flag of India.

National flag
FlagDateUseDescription
1947–presentNational flag of IndiaA horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra.

Governmental flag
FlagDateUseDescription
1950–1971[1]Presidential Standard of India1st quarter: state emblem (the Lions of Sarnath) to represent national unity; 2nd quarter: elephant from Ajanta Caves to represent patience and strength; 3rd quarter: scales from the Red Fort, Old Delhi to represent justice and economy; 4th quarter: lotus vase from Sarnath to represent prosperity.
present Flag used by Ministry of Defence A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue

Ensigns
FlagDateUseDescription
Civil ensignA Red Ensign with the flag of India in the canton.
State ensignA Blue Ensign with the flag of India in the canton, and a yellow anchor horizontally in the fly.

Military flags

Indian Armed Forces
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Indian Armed ForcesA horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre

Chief of Defence Staff
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Chief of Defence StaffA red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem

Army
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Indian ArmyA red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly
Flag of the Field Marshal
Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff
Flag of the General
Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Flag of the Lieutenant General

Air Force
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Indian Air ForceA sky-blue ensign with the flag of India in the canton, and the Air Force roundel in the fly
Flag of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force
Flag of the Chief of the Air Staff
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Indian NavyA red cross on a white field, with the Indian state emblem in yellow at the center, with the Indian national flag in the canton.
Flag of the Admiral (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Naval Staff)
Flag of the Vice Admiral
Flag of the Rear Admiral
Flag of the Commodore
Flag of the Senior officer

Coast Guard
FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Indian Coast GuardA Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly
Flag of the Director General of the Indian Coast GuardA Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly
Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard

State and union territory flags
Main article: List of Indian state flags

At present there are no officially recognised flags for individual states in India. No legal prohibitions to prevent states adopting distinctive flags exist in either the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 or the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. [2] In a 1994 case before the Supreme Court of India, S. R. Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared that there is no prohibition in the Constitution of India for a state to have its own flag. However, a state flag should not dishonour the national flag. [3] The Flag code of India also permits other flags to be flown with the Flag of India, but not on the same flag pole of in a superior position to the national flag.[4]

Former official state flags

Jammu and Kashmir had an official state flag between 1952 and 2019.

FlagStateDateUseDescription
Jammu and Kashmir1952–2019Flag of Jammu and KashmirThe flag was red with three white vertical stripes in the hoist and a plough in the fly. The red background stood for labour, the stripes stood for the three regions of the state namely; (Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh) and the plough stood for agriculture. The ratio of the flag was 3:2.[5]

Proposed state flags

Flags have been proposed for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

FlagStateDateUseDescription
Tamil NaduProposed in 1970The Government of Tamil Nadu proposed a design for a state flag in 1970.[6]Grey flag with the flag of India in the canton and the Emblem of Tamil Nadu in the fly.
Karnataka Proposed in ????. The Government of Karnataka proposed a design for a state flag in ???? (Probably 2018).[7] Yellow, white and red tricolour with the Emblem of Karnataka centred on the white band.

State government banners

When a distinctive banner is required to represent a state or union territory, the emblem of the state or union territory can be displayed on a white field.[8][9] [10]

States

Union territories

Historical flags

Pre-colonial states
FlagDateUseDescription
1206–1526Flag of the Delhi SultanateA dark green flag with a black strip left of center.
1336–1646Flag of the Vijayanagara EmpireYellow coloured flag of the Vijayanagara Empire which ruled over South India.
1399–1950Flag of the Kingdom of MysoreRed and Brown coloured flag of the Kingdom of Mysore which ruled over most of Karnataka and at its zenith most of South India.
1518–1687Flag of Kingdom of GolcondaCyan coloured flag of the Qutb Shahi dynasty which ruled over the Kingdom of Golconda.
1526–1858Flag of the Mughal Empire (Alam)A flag that was primarily moss green.[11]
1674–1818Flag of the Maratha Empire (Bhagwa Dhwaj)[12]A saffron-coloured swallowtail flag.
1729–1949Flag of the Kingdom of TravancoreRed flag with a dextrally-coiled silver conch shell (Turbinella pyrum) at its centre.
1799–1849Flag of the Sikh Empire (Nishan Sahib)[13]
1642–1975Flag of the Kingdom of SikkimThe flag of Sikkim used between 1967 and 1975 depicted a Buddhist prayer wheel in gold on a white field with a red border

Company rule in India
Further information: Flag of the East India Company
FlagDateUseDescription
1600–1707Flag of the East India CompanyA striped banner with Saint George's Cross in the canton.
1707–1801Flag of the East India CompanyA striped banner with the Union Jack of Great Britain in the canton.
1801–1858Flag of the East India CompanyA striped banner with the Union Jack in the canton.

British India
Further information: Star of India (flag)
FlagDateUseDescription
1858–1947The official state flag of the British Empire used in IndiaThe Flag of the United Kingdom.
1885–1947Flag of the Viceroy and Governor-General of IndiaThe Union Jack defaced with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India beneath the Tudor Crown.
1880–1947Civil Ensign of British India used to represent British India internationally.A Red Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, defaced with the Star of India emblem displayed in the fly.

(Royal) Indian Army
FlagDateUseDescription
1895-1947Ensign of the British Indian ArmyRed field emblazoned with Star of India crossed by two swords and beneath the Tudor Crown.
1878-1947Flag of the Indian Army Service CorpsA Blue Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India crossed by two swords displayed in the fly.

(Royal) Indian Marine/(Royal) Indian Navy
FlagDateUseDescription
1863–19471877–1892 Ensign of Her Majesty's Indian Marine
1892–1928: Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine
1928–1934 Naval jack of the Royal Indian Marine
1934–1947: Naval jack of the Royal Indian Navy		A Blue Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly.
1928–19501928–1934: Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine
1934–1950: Ensign of the Royal Indian Navy		The White Ensign of the Royal Navy.
1951–19551951–1955: Flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
1955: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy		The St George's Cross.
Ensign of an Admiral in the Royal Navy.
1934–19581934–1947: Flag of the Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy
1947–1950: Flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy
1950–1955: Flag of the Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy
1955–1958: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy		Ensign of a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
1928–19581928–1934: Flag of the Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Marine
1934–1950: Flag of the Flag Officer, Royal Indian Navy
1950–1958: Flag of the Flag Officer, Indian Navy		Ensign of a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Dominion of India
FlagDateUseDescription
1947–1950Flag of the Dominion of IndiaA horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra.
1947–1950Flag of the Governor-General of IndiaDark blue field emblazoned with the royal crest (a Tudor Crown surmounted by the lion of England, itself wearing the crown), beneath which was the word 'India' in gold majuscules. Similar to flags used by other Governors-General of Commonwealth realms.

Indian Air Force rank flags
FlagDateUseDescription
1950–1980Marshal of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Group Captain of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Wing Captain of the Indian Air Force
1950–1980Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force

Danish India
1620–1869The flag of Denmark (Denmark-Norway until 1814)

French India
FlagDateUseDescription
1667–1791Flag of the Kingdom of FranceFlag of the Kingdom of France.
1791–17941791–1792: Flag of the Kingdom of France
1792–1794: Flag of the French First Republic		The flag of France.
1815–1830Flag of the Kingdom of France under the Bourbon RestorationFlag of the Kingdom of France.
1794–1804, 1830–1940, 1944–19541794–1804: Flag of the French First Republic
1804–1814, 1815: Flag of the First French Empire
1830–1848; Flag of the Kingdom of France
1848–1852: Flag of the French Second Republic
1852–1870: Flag of the Second French Empire
1870–1940: Flag of the French Third Republic and French Empire
1944–1946: Flag of the Provisional Government of the Fourth French Republic
1946–1954: Flag of the French Fourth Republic and French Union		The flag of France.
1940–1944Flag of French India under Free FranceFlag of Free France with the Cross of Lorraine

Portuguese India
FlagDateUseDescription
1497–1521Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1521–1578Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1578–1616Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1616–1640Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1640–1667Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1667–1706Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1706–1750Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1816–1826Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.
1826–1830Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
1830–1910Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.Vertical bicolour blue-white. Proportion of the fields: 1:1.
1910–1961 (de facto)
1910–1974 (de jure)		Flag of the Portuguese Republic. The final state flag of Portuguese India.Used from the implantation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910. Officially used until 1974, as Portugal only then recognised the Annexation of Portuguese India.
1967 (proposed)Proposed official flag for Portuguese India in 1967.Proposal by F. P. de Almeida Langhans. Never actually used.

Flags used in the Indian independence movement
FlagDateUseDescription
1906Calcutta flagThree horizontal bands of equal width with the top being orange, the centre yellow, and the bottom green. It had eight half-opened lotus flowers on the top stripe, and a picture of the sun and a crescent moon on the bottom stripe. वन्दे मातरम् (Vande Mātaram) was inscribed in the centre in Devanagari. [Note 1]
1907Early Indian nationalist flags [Note 2]
1917Flag of the Home Rule MovementFive red and four green horizontal stripes
On the upper left quadrant was the Union Jack, which signified the Dominion status that the movement sought to achieve. A crescent and a star, both in white, are set in top fly. Seven white stars are arranged as in the Saptarishi constellation (the constellation Ursa Major), which is sacred to Hindus. [Note 3]
1921Gandhi's flag, introduced at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1921
1931–1947The Swaraj Flag, officially adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1931
1943–1945Flag of the Imperial Japanese puppet government for India and the Indian National Army between 1943 and 1945
1942–1945Flag of the Indian Legion of the Waffen-SS of Nazi GermanyThree horizontal strips of saffron, white, and green, with a springing tiger in the centre.

Former national flag proposals
FlagDateUseDescription
Proposed in 1904, used in April 1910Flag proposed in an issue of an Anglo-Indian weekly.[17]Dark blue, green and light blue triband with a purple band at the hoist depicting the Orion constellation. A thin red border surrounds the whole flag.
Proposed in 1947Louis Mountbatten's proposed flag for India.[18]The Swaraj flag with a small Union Flag in the canton.

See also

Notes
  1. The partition of Bengal (1905) resulted in the introduction of a new Indian flag that sought to unite the multitude of castes and races within the country. The Vande Mataram flag, part of the Swadeshi movement against the British, comprised Indian religious symbols represented in western heraldic fashion. The tricolour flag included eight white lotuses on the upper green band representing the eight provinces, a sun and a crescent on the bottom red band, and the Vande Mataram slogan in Hindi on the central yellow band. The flag was launched in Calcutta bereft of any ceremony and the launch was only briefly covered by newspapers. The flag was not covered in contemporary governmental or political reports either, but was used at the annual session of the Indian National Congress. A slightly modified version was subsequently used by Madam Bhikaji Cama at the Second Socialist International Meeting in Stuttgart. Despite the multiple uses of the flag, it failed to generate enthusiasm amongst Indian nationalists.[14]
  2. Around the same time, another proposal for the flag was initiated by Sister Nivedita, a Hindu reformist and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. The flag consisted of a thunderbolt in the centre and a hundred and eight oil lamps for the border, with the Vande Mataram caption split around the thunderbolt. It was also presented at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1906.[15] Soon, many other proposals were initiated, but none of them gained attention from the nationalist movement.
  3. In 1916, Suraiya Tayyabji submitted thirty new designs, in the form of a booklet funded by members of the High Court of Madras. These many proposals and recommendations did little more than keep the flag movement alive. The same year, Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak adopted a new flag as part of the Home Rule Movement. The flag included the Union Jack in the upper left corner, a star and crescent in the upper right, and seven stars displayed diagonally from the lower right, on a background of five red and four green alternating bands. The flag resulted in the first governmental initiative against any nationalistic flag, as a magistrate in Coimbatore banned its use. The ban was followed by a public debate on the function and importance of a national flag.[16]

References
  1. Das, Chand N. (1984). Traditions and Customs of the Indian Armed Forces. Vision Books. p. 53.
  2. "Should States have their own flags?". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  3. https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/non-nda-states-playing-emblem-politics-cover-failure
  4. "Flag Code of India - Wikisource, the free online library". en.wikisource.org. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  5. Haynes, Ed (24 September 1996). "Jammu and Kashmir (India)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 22 May 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Karnataka government unveils the state flag, awaits Centre's approval". hindustantimes.com/. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  8. Ben Cahoon. "Indian states since 1947". worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. "Vexilla Mundi". vexilla-mundi.com. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  10. https://www.eastmojo.com/amp/story/arunachal-pradesh%2F2019%2F06%2F03%2Farunachal-new-pema-khandu-govt-to-revamp-education-law-order
  11. http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/addorimss/a/zoomify55414.html
  12. Kadam, Vasant S. (1993), Maratha Confederacy: A Study in Its Origin and Development, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, p. 128, ISBN 978-81-215-0570-3
  13. "Nishan Sahib Khanda Sikh Symbols Sikh Museum History Heritage Sikhs". www.sikhmuseum.com. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  14. Virmani 1999, pp. 175–176
  15. Roy 2006, pp. 498–499
  16. Virmani 1999, pp. 176–177
  17. Dipesh Navsaria (July 27, 1996). "Indian Flag Proposals". Flags of the World. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  18. Dipesh Navsaria (July 27, 1996). "Indian Flag Proposals". Flags of the World. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
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