Republic of India, 1947

The national flag of India is a horizontal rectangular tricolour flag of deep saffron (kesari), white and dark green, with the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke wheel, in navy blue on the central stripe. It was adopted in its present form on 22 July 1947, a few days before India’s independence, and remained the official flag when India became a republic on 26 January 1950. The saffron colour symbolises courage and sacrifice, white stands for purity and truth, and green symbolises life and prosperity. The 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra represents “dharma” (a key concept in Indian religions, referring to virtue and order) and law.