General Awareness for Competitive Exams – List of National Symbols of India

National Symbols of India represent the Identity of the Nation. These symbols depict the culture and heritage of India. In this article, we will introduce you to the National Symbols of India.

List of the National Symbols of India

1. National Flag

The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of India saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle, and India green at the bottom in equal proportion.

Important Facts about the National Flag:

• The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 2:3 respectively.
• In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue wheel which represents the dharma chakra. This Dharma Chakra depicted the “wheel of the law” in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.
• The National Flag of India was adopted on the 22^nd of July 1947.
• The saffron colour indicates strength and courage.
• The white colour indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra.
• The green colour shows the fertility, growth, and auspiciousness of the land.
• The first national flag in India is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta

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2. National Anthem

Jana-Gana-Mana is the National Anthem of India. It was composed originally in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore.

Important Facts about the National Anthem:

• Hindi Version of National Anthem of India was adopted on 24 January 1950.
• National Anthem was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the Kolkata Session of the Indian National Congress.
• The playing time of the full version of the national anthem is approximately 52 seconds.

3. National Bird

The Indian peacock (Pavo cristatus) is the National Bird of India. It was declared the national bird of India in 1963 because of its rich religious and legendary involvement in Indian traditions.

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4. National Flower

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) is the National Flower of India. 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 since time immemorial.

Lotus symbolises purity, long life, and prosperity.

5. National Animal

The magnificent tiger is the National Animal of India. The combination of grace, strength, agility, and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the national animal of India

Important Facts about National Animal:

• The Bengal Tiger was declared as the National Animal of India in April 1973, with the initiation of Project Tiger, to protect the tigers in India.
• Prior to this, the lion was the National animal of India.
• The Royal Bengal Tiger is found throughout the country except in the north-western region.
• At present, there are 50 Tiger reserves in the country.

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6. National Song

The song Vande Mataram is the National Song of India. It was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji.

Important Facts about National Song:

• It has an equal status with the National Anthem.
• It was adopted on January 24, 1950.
• The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.
• The song was a part of Bankimchandra’s most famous novel Anand Math (1882).

7. State Emblem

The state emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.  In the original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.

Important Facts about the State Emblem:

• It was adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950.
• The words Satyameva Jayatefrom Mundaka Upanishad, meaning ‘Truth Alone Triumphs‘, are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.
• The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted.

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8. National Tree

The Indian fig tree, Ficus benghalensis, is the National Tree of India. The country’s unity is symbolized by the tree’s huge structure and its deep roots. The tree is also known as Kalpavriksha, which means ‘wish-fulfilling tree’. The Indian fig tree or more commonly, the Banyan tree is called so because it has immense medicinal properties and is associated with longevity.

9. National Aquatic Animal

The Ganges River Dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal of India.

Important Facts about the National Aquatic Animal:

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests notified the Ganges River Dolphin as the National Aquatic Animal on 18th May 2010.
• They are locally known as susu, because of the noise it makes while breathing.
• River dolphin is a critically endangered species in India.

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10. National River of India

Ganga River is one of the prime rivers of India and has been declared as the National River of India.

Important Facts about the National River:

• The Ganga, also known as the Ganges, is the longest river in India flowing over 2,510 km.
• The PM declared the Ganga as the National River on November 4, 2008.
• The Ganga forms its Delta at the Bay of Bengal.
• It originates in the snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier.
• There are two dams on the river – one at Haridwar and the other at Farakka.

11. National Fruit

Mango is the National Fruit of India. It is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. Its juicy fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, C, and D. In India there are over 100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes, and colours.

Not only for competitive exams but as a citizen of India it is important that you should be aware of the National Symbols of India. We hope that you found the article helpful. We wish you all the best for your upcoming exam.

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