Understanding the rules for displaying the Tricolour

To commemorate the 75th Independence Day, Indians actively participated in the government’s HarGharTiranga campaign, being held under the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav programme.

Flag Code of India:

• According to the Flag Code of India, paragraph 2.2, (effective from January 26, 2002) any person, organisation, private or public, or educational institution can hoist or display the Tricolour on “all days or occasions in accordance with the dignity and honour of the National Flag”.
• Dimension: The flag can be as big or small as one wants, but the ratio of the length to the height (width) of the National Flag shall be 3:2.
• Material: After an amendment on December 30, 2021, the material of the flag has been decided as “handspun and handwoven or machine-made, cotton, polyester, wool, silk or khadi bunting”.
• If the flag is placed in the open or on the house of a member of the public, it may be flown day and night.

What is not allowed?

• It is against rules to display a damaged or dishevelled National Flag.
• No other flag or bunting shall be placed higher than or above or side by side with the National Flag; nor shall any object including flowers or garlands, or emblem be placed on or above the flagmast from which the National Flag is flown”.
• The Tricolour should never be used as a festoon, rosette, and bunting or for a decorative purpose.
• No advertisements should be festooned to the polefrom which it flies.
• A person is forbidden by law to use the national flag “as a portion of costume or uniform”.
• It cannot be used as an accessory to be worn below the waist of any person.
• It shall not be embroidered or printed on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any dress material”.
• The National Flag cannot be flown on any vehicle except those of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governor and other dignitaries.
• The flag should also not be used to cover the sides, back, and top of any vehicle.
• The Tricolour should not be stored in a way that might dirty or damage it. 

Disposal of damaged Flag:

• In case the flag is damaged, the Flag Code instructs not to cast it aside or treat it disrespectfully but “destroy it as a whole in private, preferably by burning or by any method consistent with the dignity of the flag”.
• Paper Flags: People, who are waving flags made of paper, should not throw these on the ground after the ceremony. The flag “shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in the water”.

Punishment for disrespecting the flag:

• According to Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, whoever in any public place destroys or tramples upon the Indian National Flag, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine, or with both.