National Symbols of India

 NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF INDIA

1.      National Flag:

The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of India saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and India green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue wheel which represents the chakra.

The top saffron colour indicates the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The green shows the fertility, growth, and auspiciousness of the land.

Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band, and it has 24 spokes. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947.

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2.      National Anthem- Jana-gana-mana:

The National Anthem of India Jana-gana-mana, composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on 24 January 1950. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the Kolkata Session of the Indian National Congress.

The complete song consists of five stanzas. The first stanza contains the full version of the National Anthem.

Playing time of the full version of the national anthem is approximately 52 seconds. A short version consisting of the first and last lines of the stanza (playing time approximately 20 seconds) is also played on certain occasions. 

3.      National Song- Vande Mataram:

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.

It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana. On January 24, 1950, the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad came up with a statement in the Constituent Assembly, "the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it."

The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The song was a part of Bankimchandra's most famous novel Anand Math (1882).

4.      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).

5.      National Bird- The Indian Peacock:

                      The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, the National Bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized 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 tail of around 200 elongated feathers.

      The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male and lacks the tail. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a gorgeous sight.

6.      National Animal- The (magnificent Tiger) Royal Bengal Tiger:

        The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris is a striped animal. It has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes. The combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the national animal of India.

7.      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 22 March 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes:

1.       Gazette of India.

2.       News broadcast by All India Radio.

3.       Calendars issued by the Government of India.

4.       Government communications addressed to 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.

    Calendar structure:

S NO	Name (Sanskrit)	Length	Start date (Gregorian)	Tropical zodiac	Tropical zodiac (Sanskrit)
1	Chaitra	30/31	21/22 March	Aries	Meṣa
2	Vaiśākha	31	21 April	Taurus	Vṛśabha
3	Jyēṣṭha	31	22 May	Gemini	Mithuna
4	Āshādha	31	22 June	Cancer	Karkaṭa/Karka
5	Śrāvana	31	23 July	Leo	Siṃha
6	Bhādra	31	23 August	Virgo	Kanyā
7	Āśvin	30	23 September	Libra	Tulā
8	Kārtika	30	23 October	Scorpio	Vṛiścik‌‌‌a
9	Mārgaśīrṣa	30	22 November	Sagittarius	Dhanur
10	Pauṣa	30	22 December	Capricorn	Makara
11	Māgha	30	21 January	Aquarius	Kumbha
12	Phālguna	30	20 February	Pisces	Mīna

8.      National Currency (Indian Rupee)

The Indian rupee (ISO code: INR and symbol ₹) is the official currency of the Republic of India. The issuance of the currency is controlled by the Reserve Bank of India.

The Indian rupee symbol is derived from the Devanagari consonant "₹" (ra) and the Latin letter "R" was adopted in 2010. It was designed by Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam. The INR depicts an equality sign that symbolizes the nation's desire to reduce economic disparity.

The design of the INR was selected from among five shortlisted symbols. According to Udaya Kumar, the design is based on the Indian tricolour.

9.      National Fruit (Mango):

Mango (Mangifera indica), affectionately called King of Fruits is the National fruit of India. Its sweet fragrance and delectable flavours have won the hearts of many around the world since time immemorial.  

As the national fruit of India, it represents prosperity, abundance and richness in favour of the country’s image

10.      National Aquatic Animal (Dolphin)

The National Aquatic Animal of India is the Gangetic River Dolphin. It is also known as “susu”. The Gangetic River Dolphin is one of the National Symbols of India.

They are found in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Karnaphuli- Sangu River systems in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Ganges River Dolphin has been named India's official aquatic animal.

The Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Karnaphuli river systems in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh are home to dolphins. Their overall population is thought to be around 2,000, and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). lists them as "highly endangered."

11.      National Flower (Lotus)

The national flower of India is Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). It is an aquatic herb that is often termed as ‘Padma’ in Sanskrit and enjoys a sacred status in the Indian culture. The Lotus symbolizes spirituality, fruitfulness, wealth, knowledge, and illumination, along with purity of heart and mind.

Lotus can survive in both fresh shallow waters and muddy swamps and can re-germinate for thousands of years, signifying survival and purity of heart, mind, and spirit under any circumstances.

12.      National Tree of India- Banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis)

The national tree of a country is one of the symbols of pride that is integral to the nation’s identity. Indian fig tree, also known as Banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis) is the National tree of India, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area.

The tree is revered as sacred in Hindu philosophy. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India. The tree is often symbol of the fabled 'Kalpa Vriksha' or the 'Tree of Wish Fullfillment' as it is associated with longevity and has important medicinal properties.

For centuries the banyan tree has been a central point for the village communities of India. Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of village life and the village council meets under the shade of this tree. Being native to that country adds to the privileged status of the tree to be considered as a national symbol.

13.      National River (Ganga)

The Ganga, often known as the Ganges, is India’s longest river, running 2,510 kilometres across mountains, valleys, and plains. The Bhagirathi River originates in the Himalayan snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier. Other rivers join it subsequently, including the Alaknanda, Yamuna, Son, Gumti, Kosi, and Ghagra.

The Ganga River basin is one of the world’s most fertile and highly populated places, covering 1,000,000 square kilometres. The river has two dams, one in Haridwar and the other in Farakka. The Ganges River Dolphin is a critically endangered species that only lives in this river.

Hindus regard the Ganga as the world’s most sacred river. Cities like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Allahabad have important religious rites along the river’s banks. The Ganga widens into the Ganges Delta in Bangladesh’s Sunderbans swamp before emptying into the Bay of Bengal at the end of its trip.

14.      National reptile -King Cobra (Ophiophagus hanna)

Snake eater (Ophiophagus hannah) or King Cobra is the National Reptile of India. King Cobra is found in the forests of India and also in Southeast Asia. King Cobra is known as the longest venomous snake of the world. King Cobra may live up to 25 years and is capable of growing up to 19 ft.

In Hinduism King cobra is considered as divine and known as Nagas and Lord Shiva is often depicted with a cobra coiled around his neck.

15.      National heritage animal - Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)

Indian elephant is the national heritage animal of India since 22 October 2010. India's Environment Ministry has declared the elephant a National Heritage Animal in order to increase protective measures for the country's nearly 29,000 elephants. "Declaring it the National Heritage Animal will give it due place as emblem of ecological sensitivity. It will also mark recognition for its centrality in our plural cultures, traditions and oral lore," the task force wrote in its report.

16.      National Vegetable of India- Indian pumpkin or kaddu

The national vegetable of India is the Indian pumpkin, commonly known as ‘kaddu’. It grows all over India, doesn’t need excellent soil qualities, and spreads readily as a climber or creeper.

It is regarded as a poor person’s vegetable since it grows easily and yields wonderful vegetables. It has a sweet flavour with dals, spices, and veggies and mixes quickly. All of tropical India’s areas grow it.

17.      Oath of allegiance- National Pledge

It was written in Telugu by Pydimarri Venkata Subba Rao in 1962. Central Advisory Board on Education directed that the pledge to be sung in Schools and that this practice to be introduced by 26 January 1965.

It is commonly recited by Indians in unison at public events, especially in schools, and during the Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.