Part of the “History of National Flags” Series from Flagmakers
Flag of India - A Brief History
Where In The World
Trivia
In India the term tricolour is only used for the national flag.
Technical Specification
Adopted:
22nd July 1947
Proportion: 3:2
Design:
An orange-white-green horizontal tricolour with 24 spoke navy wheel at the centre.
Colours:
PMS
Saffron: 1495C
White: 1C
Green: 362C
Blue: 2755C
Brief History
The first flag flown in India was that of the Delhi Sultanate. The flag was a plain green field with a vertical black
stripe representing Islam. In 1336 South India was controlled by the Sangama Dynasty and was named the
Vijayanagara Empire. The flag was a yellow field with symbols including the moon, red sun, a dagger and black
boar.
The Flag of the Delhi Sultanate
The Flag of the Vijayanagara Empire
(1206 – 1536)
(1336 – 1646)
From 1505 to 1961 part of India was Portuguese India. The flag flown was the Portuguese and changed every
time the national flag changed. The first flag was a white flag with an ogival shaped shield at its centre, on top of
the shield is royal crown.
Between 1518 and 1687 the Kingdom of Golconda was part of modern day India. It was controlled by the Qutb
Shahi Dynasty and had a plain light green field as a flag.
The Flag of Portuguese India
The Flag of the Kingdom of Golconda
(1505 – 1521)
(1518 – 1687)
In 1521 the shield of the Portuguese flag became more rounded and castles removed. From 1526 The Mughal
Empire was based over large parts of the the Indian Subcontinent. The flag flown in those parts was a triangular
green flag with gold dots and a golden sun with rays.
The Flag of the Mughal Empire
(1526 – 1540)
(1555 – 1857)
A new crown and ogival shield was adopted to the Flag of Portuguese India in 1578 and in 1640 King John IV
changed the shape of the shield.
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1521 – 1578)
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1578 – 1640)
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1640 – 1667)
The crown on the flag of Portuguese India changed to a popular five-arched crown in 1667. The same year the
French East India Company was set up in India. The flag of French India was the white field with gold flur del lyse
national French flag.
The Flag of French India
(1667 – 1791)
(1815 – 1830)
In 1674 The Marathas ended the rule of the Mughal Empire. The orange swallow-tailed flag of the Maratha
Empire was adopted.
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1667 – 1707)
The King John V ‘French style’ shield with beret in the crown was added to the flag of Portuguese India
in 1707.
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1707 – 1750)
(1826 – 1830)
The Sikh Confederacy and the Sikh Empire was also part of modern day India. Adopted in 1701 the flag was an
orange triangle with the symbol of the sikh attached. In 1750 an ornate border was placed behind the shield of
the Flag of Portuguese India.
The Flag of the Maratha Empire
(1674 – 1818)
The Flag of the Sikh Confederacy
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1707 – 1849)
(1750 – 1816)
In 1791 the Flag of French India was changed to the modern day blue-white-red tricolour. The King Peter II shield
in front of an armillary sphere was placed on the flag of Portuguese India in 1816.
The Flag of French India
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1791 – 1815)
(1816 – 1826)
(1830 – 1954)
The Queen Maria flag of Portuguese India was adopted in 1830. It featured the King John V shield and crown of
over a blue and white bicolour flag. The alternative flag was the flag flown at sea and features a smaller blue
stripe.
Britain took control of India in 1858 and the Union Flag became the official state flag of British India.
The Portuguese India
The Flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
(1830 – 1910)
(1858 – 1947)
In 1880 an unofficial land flag was created to represent British India. It features a British Red Ensign with the Star
of India centre right.
After the Portuguese Monarchy was overthrown a new Portuguese flag of India was adopted in 1911. It was a
green-red bicolour flag with new coat of arms featuring an uncrowned shield where the colours meet.
The Flag of British India
(1880 – 1947)
The Flag of Portuguese India
(1911 – 1961)
The Flag of India was adopted in 1947 when the
country became a republic free from British control. It
is an orange-white-green tricolour made of Khadi
hand-spun cloth with a 24 spoke wheel at the centre.
The national flag is also the standard of the President
of India.
The Flag of India
(1947 To Present Day)
The Coat of Arms of India
The emblem of India was adopted in 1950 and features four Asiatic lions,
the fourth is unseen, on a circular base depicting the 24 spoke wheel, bull
and horse. Below is a motto stating “TRUTH ALONE TRIUMPHS”.
The State and Civil Ensigns of India
The Civil Ensign of India is the merchant flag and features a red ensign with national flag in the top left corner.
The State Ensign is the maritime flag which is a British Blue Ensign with national flag in the top left corner and
anchor in the centre right.
The Civil Ensign of India
The State Ensign of India
The Flags of the Indian Army
The flag of the Indian Army is a red ensign with national flag top left and crossed swords with emblem of India
centre right. The flag of the Chief of Army Staff has four stars on the right hand side.
The Flag of the Indian Army
The Flag of the Chief of Army Staff
The Flags of the Indian Air Force
The flag of the Indian Air Force is a blue ensign with national flag top left and the roundel of the air force centre
right. The flag of the chief of staff has the emblem of the air force above the roundel. The flag of the Marshall of
the Indian Air Force features a blue field with the emblem at the centre and five gold stars on the right side.
The Flag of the Indian Air Force
The Flag of the Chief of Air Staff
The Flag of the Marshall of the
Indian Air Force
The Flags of the Indian Navy
The Ensign of the Indian Navy is a white field and a red cross with the national flag top left and the emblem of
India at the centre. The ensign of the Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral feature a red cross on a white field
with 24 spoke navy wheel. The Vice Admiral features a red dot top left, Rear Admiral top and bottom left. The
ensign of the Commodore is a swallow-tailed flag that features a red cross on a white field with 24 spoke navy
wheel and top left corner.
The Ensign of the Indian Navy
The Ensign of the Rear Admiral
The Ensign of the Admiral
The Ensign of the Vice Admiral
The Ensign of the Commodore
The Flags of the Indian Coast Guard
The flag of the Indian Coast Guard is a blue ensign with the national flag top left and the emblem of the Indian
Coast Guard centre right. The flag of the Additional Director of the Indian Coast Guard is a blue field with
emblem and three gold stars. The Flag of the Inspector General of the Indian Coast Guard is a blue field with
emblem and two gold stars.
The Ensign of the Indian Coast
Guard
The Flag of the Additional Director
General of the Indian Coast Guard
The Flag of the Inspector General
of the Indian Coast Guard