Flag of India

What the flag looks like

Three equal horizontal bands of saffron, white and green, with a navy-blue wheel of 24 spokes (the Ashoka Chakra) in the center of the white band.

What it means

Saffron represents courage and sacrifice, white truth and peace, and green faith and fertility; the chakra is the wheel of dharma (law and righteousness).

How to remember it

India is saffron-white-green with a navy 24-spoke wheel in the middle; Niger has an orange disc instead, and Ireland's and Côte d'Ivoire's stripes run vertically.

Fun facts

• The chakra is taken from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, a sculpture from the 3rd century BC.
• The flag is known as the Tiranga ("tricolor") and is based on a design by Pingali Venkayya.

India at a glance

Capital

New Delhi

Region

Southern Asia

Population

1.45 billion

Area

3,287,590 km²

Languages

English, Hindi, Tamil

Currency

Indian rupee (₹)

Flag adopted

1947

Flags often confused with India

• Niger: India and Niger are both orange, white and green with a disc in the center. India's disc is a blue wheel; Niger's is a plain orange disc, and its flag is nearly square.
• Ireland: Ireland and India both use green, white and orange. Ireland's stripes are vertical with green at the hoist; India's are horizontal with saffron on top and a blue wheel in the center.
• Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast and India both use orange, white and green. Ivory Coast's stripes are vertical and plain; India's are horizontal with a blue wheel in the center.