Given the national push to encourage members of the public to fly the national flag through the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, there is a risk that flags may be treated contrary to laid down rules and guidelines. In this regard, the public have been urged to be mindful of the rules.
Under the Flag Code of India, amended in December 2021, the tricolour can be made of hand spun and hand woven or machine made, cotton, polyester, wool, silk khadi bunting.
A member of the public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist or display the flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise, consistent with the dignity and honour of the national flag. An amendment at the end of last month allows for flags displayed in the open or in a house of a member of the public to be flown day and night.
A damaged or dishevelled flag must not be displayed and there are rules governing the disposal of damaged flags as well. Damaged flags should be destroyed as a whole in private, preferably by burning or any other method considering the dignity of the national flag. If made of paper and waved by the general public, these flags should not be discarded on the ground. They should be discarded in private considering the dignity of the national flag.
A common sight around Independence Day is the display of tricolours on vehicles but there are strict rules on this as well.
“The flag should not be flown on any vehicle except of the dignitaries mentioned in Section IX of Part III of the Flag Code, such as President, Vice-President, Prime-Minister, Governors etc,” it was stated in an official press release today.
