List of Indian state flags explained

As of 2024, there are no officially recognised flags for the individual states or union territories of India.[1] No legal prohibitions to prevent states adopting distinctive flags exist in either the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, or the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.[2] In a 1994 case before the Supreme Court of India, S. R. Bommai v. Union of India, the Supreme Court declared that there is no prohibition in the Constitution of India for a state to have its own flag. However, a state flag should not dishonour the national flag.[3] The Flag code of India also permits other flags to be flown with the Flag of India, but not on the same flag pole or in a superior position to the national flag.[4]

Former official state flags

The state of Jammu and Kashmir had an officially recognised state flag between 1952 and 2019 under the special status granted to the state by Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Flag State Usage date Description
1947–1952The flag was indigo with a plough in the centre. The red background stood for labour and the plough stood for agriculture. The ratio of the flag was 3:2.
1952–2019The flag was red with three white vertical stripes in the hoist and a plough in the fly. The red background stood for labour, the stripes stood for the three administrative divisions of the state (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh) and the plough stood for agriculture. The ratio of the flag was 3:2.[5]

Proposed state flags

The Government of Tamil Nadu proposed a design for the Flag of Tamil Nadu in 1970.[6]

The Government of Karnataka proposed a design for the Flag of Karnataka in 2018 based on the traditional yellow-red Kannada bicolour. The new tricolour flag with the central white band and emblem, was designed to distance itself from regional political parties and emulate the structure of the Indian Tricolour.[7] In August 2019, the Government of Karnataka announced it was no longer officially pursuing the proposal for an official state flag.[8]

Flag State Proposal date Description
2018Yellow, white and red tricolour with the Emblem of Karnataka centred on the white band.
1970Grey flag with the flag of India in the canton and the Emblem of Tamil Nadu in the fly.

Banners of the states and union territories

When a distinctive banner is required to represent a state or union territory, the emblem of the state or union territory is usually displayed on a white or blue field.[9] [10] [11]

Union territories

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Indian States. crwflags.com. 12 September 2019. 26 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190826164945/https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/in-.html. live.
  2. News: Should States have their own flags?. The Hindu. 9 February 2018. 12 September 2019. 3 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803070326/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-states-have-their-own-flags/article22695446.ece. live.
  3. Web site: Non-NDA states playing emblem politics to cover up their failure. 14 July 2018. 22 March 2020. 22 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322151052/https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/non-nda-states-playing-emblem-politics-cover-failure. live.
  4. Web site: Flag Code of India - Wikisource, the free online library. en.wikisource.org. 12 September 2019. 26 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190826165227/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Flag_Code_of_India. live.
  5. Web site: Haynes. Ed. Jammu and Kashmir (India). Flags of the World. 22 October 2010. 24 September 1996. 24 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101124045645/http://flagspot.net/flags/in-jk.html#flag. live.
  6. Web site: When Tamil Nadu proposed a State flag nearly five decades ago . 22 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100006/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2017/jul/25/when-tamil-nadu-proposed-a-state-flag-nearly-five-decades-ago-1633170--1.html . 23 May 2018 . dead . dmy-all .
  7. News: Karnataka government unveils the state flag, awaits Centre's approval. 2018-03-08. hindustantimes.com/. 8 March 2018. en. 2018-03-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20180311142452/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/karnataka-government-unveils-the-state-flag-awaits-centre-s-approval/story-i4aMgmK3uaIyd8mhNwf94K.html. live.
  8. Web site: Karnataka govt will not pursue demand for separate state flag: Minister CT Ravi. 30 August 2019. 3 November 2020. 17 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517041226/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/karnataka-govt-will-not-pursue-demand-separate-state-flag-minister-ct-ravi-108102. live.
  9. Web site: Indian states since 1947. Ben Cahoon. worldstatesmen.org. 12 September 2019. 17 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200517222758/https://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_states.html. live.
  10. Web site: Vexilla Mundi. vexilla-mundi.com. 12 September 2019. 3 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220403092230/http://www.vexilla-mundi.com/india_governments.html. live.
  11. News: Lepcha . Irani Sonowal . June 3, 2019 . Arunachal: New Pema Khandu govt to revamp education, law & order . . February 15, 2020 . August 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200803073339/https://www.eastmojo.com/amp/story/arunachal-pradesh%2F2019%2F06%2F03%2Farunachal-new-pema-khandu-govt-to-revamp-education-law-order . live .

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