Title
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Symbol
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Facts
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National flag
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Flag of India
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Adoption
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22 July 1947
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Shape
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Horizontal rectangular tricolor flag.
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History
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The flag is based on the Swaraj flag designed by Pingali Venkayya.
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Design
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- The length of the flag is 1.5 times that of the width i.e. a ratio of two by three.
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All three stripes equal in width and length; Saffron at the top, white in the middle and India green at the bottom.
- The size of Ashoka Chakra is not defined but it must have 24 spokes and is to be printed on both sides of the flag in navy blue colour.
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National emblem
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National Emblem of India
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Adoption
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26 January 1950. Adopted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
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Design
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Adopted into the present form by Madhav Sawhney.
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History
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The capital was erected by Ashoka to mark the spot where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded.
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Features
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Three lions are visible. There is a dharma chakra at the centre. A bull and a horse is visible in the abacus.
A Motto is inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script: "Satyameva jayate" taken from Mundaka Upanishad.
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Usage
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Emblem is regulated and restricted under State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005.
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Actual emblem:
Four Asiatic lions standing back to back symbolizes the power, courage, pride, and confidence.
The abacus is girded with a frieze of sculptures in high relief of an elephant (of the east), a bull (of the west), a horse (of the south), and a lion (of the north), separated by intervening wheels, over a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration. At its centre it has a beautiful wheel (Dharma chakra).
Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).
Difference between Actual and Adopted emblem:
Actual emblem
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Adopted emblem
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Four Asiatic lions stand back to back
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Only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view.
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At the bottom it has an elephant, a bull, a horse and a lion.
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Only the horse and bull are visible while the other two being hidden from view.
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There is a bell shaped lotus beneath the abacus
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Bell-shaped lotus beneath the abacus is absent.
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National calendar
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Saka calendar
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Adoption
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Chaitra 1, 1879, Saka Era, or March 22, 1957.
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History
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The calendar was developed by the Calendar Reform Committee in 1957.
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Facts
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The names of the months are derived from ancient Hindu lunisolar calendar.
In leap years, Chaitra has 31 days and starts on March 21 instead.
To determine leap years, add 78 days to the Saka year.
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Calendar structure:
Sl. No.
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Month (Sanskrit)
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Length
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Start date (Gregorian)
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Tropical zodiac
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1
|
Chaitra
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30/31
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March 22
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Aries
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2
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Vaishākha
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31
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April 21
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Taurus
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3
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Jyēshtha
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31
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May 22
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Gemini
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4
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Āshādha
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31
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June 22
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Cancer
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5
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Shrāvana
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31
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July 23
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Leo
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6
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Bhaadra
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31
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August 23
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Virgo
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7
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Āshwin
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30
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September 23
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Libra
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8
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Kārtika
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30
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October 23
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Scorpio
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9
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Agrahayana
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30
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November 22
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Sagittarius
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10
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Pausha
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30
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December 22
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Capricorn
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11
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Māgha
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30
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January 21
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Aquarius
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12
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Phalguna
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30
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February 20
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Pisces
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National anthem
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Jana Gana Mana
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Adoption
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24 January 1950.
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Composer
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Rabindranath Tagore.
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Lyrics
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Originally written in Sanskritised (Tatsama) Bengali.
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Hindi Translation
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Translated into Hindi-Urdu by Abid Ali.
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English translation
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Translated into English by Rabindranath Tagore.
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Formal rendition of the national anthem
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52 seconds.
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Shortened version of rendition of the national anthem
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20 seconds.
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National song
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Vande Mataram
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Adoption
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24 January 1950
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Composer
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Bankim Chandra Chatterjee(In his 1882 novel Anandamath).
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Song
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The original Vande Mataram consists of six stanzas.
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Lyrics
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Originally written in Bengali.
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Translation
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Aurobindo Ghose(first appeared in Karmayogin, 20 November 1909).
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History
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It was first sung in a political context by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.
In 1950 (after India's independence), the song's first two verses were given the official status of the "national song" of the Republic of India.
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Oath of allegiance
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National Pledge
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Adoption
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26 January 1965
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Composer
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P. V. Subba Rao in 1962.
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History
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Initially composed in Telugu language. It was first read out in a school in Visakhapatnam in 1963.
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National river
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Ganga
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Fact: Ganga is the longest river of India with the most heavily populated river basin in the world. The river is revered by Hindus as the most sacred river on earth.
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National animal
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Royal Bengal Tiger
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Scientific name: Panthera tigris
Fact: It is the largest carnivore is found only in the Indian subcontinent and can be found in most regions of the country.
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National aquatic animal
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River Dolphin
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Name: Gangetic dolphin
Scientific name: Platanista gangetica
Fact: It is said to represent the purity of the holy Ganga Riveras it can only survive in pure and fresh water.
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National bird
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Indian Peacock
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Scientific name: Pavo cristatus
Fact: It is indigenous to India. Peacock represents the unity of vivid colors and finds references in Indian culture.
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National flower
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Indian lotus
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Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera
Fact: It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture.
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National fruit
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Mango
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Scientific name: Mangifera indica
Fact: Originated in India and the country is home to more than 100 varieties of the fruit.
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National tree
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Indian Banyan
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Scientific name: Ficus bengalensis
Fact: They root themselves to form new trees and grow over large areas. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India.
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