List of Indian flags

For other uses, see Flag of India.

This is a list of flags used in India by various organizations.

National flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1947–present	National flag of India	A horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra.

Governmental flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1950–1971[1]	Presidential Standard of India	1st quarter: state emblem (the Lions of Sarnath) to represent national unity; 2nd quarter: elephant from Ajanta Caves to represent patience and strength; 3rd quarter: scales from the Red Fort, Old Delhi to represent justice and economy; 4th quarter: lotus vase from Sarnath to represent prosperity.
		Flag used by Ministry of Defence	A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue representing the army, navy and air force respectively.

Ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Civil air ensign	India uses National Flag as Civil air ensign
		Civil ensign	A Red Ensign with the flag of India in the canton.
		State ensign	A Blue Ensign with the flag of India in the canton, and a yellow anchor horizontally in the fly.

Naval

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2022–present	Indian Naval Ensign	The ensign consists of the Indian national flag on the upper canton, a blue octagon encasing the national emblem atop an anchor to depict steadfastness, superimposed on a shield with the Navy's motto “Sam No Varuna” (a Vedic mantra invoking the god of seas to be auspicious) in Devanagari. The octagon represents the eight directions and has been included as a symbol of the Navy's “multidirectional reach and multidimensional operational capability”. The golden borders of the octagon have been inspired by the seal of Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji.
		Naval Reserve Ensign	Naval Reserve Ensign used by auxiliary ships and merchant ships whose captain is a Navy Reserve Officer.

Port authorities

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Ensign of Port of Cochin
		Ensign of Bombay Harbour Trust
		Ensign of Commissioners of the Port of Calcutta

Military flags

Indian Armed Forces

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Indian Armed Forces	A horizontal tricolour of red, navy blue and sky blue with the tri-service emblem at the centre
		Flag of the Chief of Defence Staff and Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee	A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the tri-service emblem
		Flag of the Integrated Defence Staff and Vice Chief of Defence Staff	A red field with the flag of India in the canton, There is insignia of two cross swords, an eagle, an anchor and an Ashok symbol above it

Indian Army

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Indian Army	A red field with the flag of India in the canton, and the Army badge in the fly
		Flag of the Field Marshal	A red flag with the national emblem over two crossed batons in a lotus blossom wreath.
		Flag of the Chief of the Army Staff
		Flag of the General
		Flag of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff
		Flag of the Principal Staff Officer
		Flag of the Lieutenant General
		Flag of the Major General
		Flag of the Brigadier

Components

Flags seen at Indian Army bases

"Strangely, the Indian national flag seems not to be used in military bases. I saw it only in schoolyards of government schools. Below are described some of the flags I have been able to see properly from the bus. Identification of the units was in most cases not possible for the reasons given above."

Ivan Sache, 25 August 2001, Website

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Ordnance Corps
		Flag of Corps of EME
		Flag of Regiment of Artillery
		Flag of Service Corps
		Flag of Medical Corps
		Flag of 3rd Cavalry regiment
		Flag of Garhwal Rifles
		Flag of Northern Command
		Flag of Punjab Regiment
		Flag of XIV Corps
		Flag of Corps of Engineers
		Flag of Brigade of The Guards
		Flag of 3rd Infantry
		Flag of 257th Transit Camp
		Flag of Vehicles of Basgo
		Flag of Mechanised Infantry Regiment
		Flag of Remount Veterinary Corps

Indian Navy

Current rank flags (2022-present)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Indian Navy	A white ensign, featuring the Flag of India in the canton, and a navy blue filled, gold-bordered octagon, enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy, located in the fly.
		Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy	A white triangular pennant with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the hoist.
		President's Colour of the Indian Navy	Indian Naval ensign with State Emblem of India.
		Flag of the Admiral (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Naval Staff)	A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and four blue stars in the hoist side.
		Flag of the Vice admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff)	A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and three blue stars in the hoist side.
		Flag of the Rear admiral	A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and two blue stars in the hoist side.
		Flag of the Commodore	A white flag with a gold-bordered octagon enclosing the crest of the Indian Navy in the middle, and one blue star in the hoist side.

Former rank flags (1950-2001; 2004-2022)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1950-2001	Indian Naval Ensign	A red cross on a white field, with the Indian national flag in the canton.
	2004–2014		A red cross on a white field, with the Indian state emblem in yellow at the center, with the Indian national flag in the canton.
	2014–2022		A red cross on a white field, with the Indian state emblem in yellow at the center with the motto Satyamev Jayate below, and the Indian national flag in the canton.
	1951-2022	President's Colour	Indian Naval ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
		Commissioning pennant	A white triangular pennant with at hoist the St. George's red cross defaced with the Ashoka Chakra.
		Flag of the Admiral (was only used by Chief of the Naval Staff)
		Flag of the Vice Admiral (also Vice Chief of the Naval Staff)
		Flag of the Rear Admiral
		Flag of the Commodore
		Flag of the Senior officer

Former rank flags (2001-2004)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	2001–2004	Flag of the Indian Navy	A blue-colored crest of the Indian Navy set upon a white background, with the flag of India placed in the canton.
	2001–2004	Commissioning pennant of the Indian Navy
	2001–2004	Flag of Admiral of the Fleet of the Indian Navy	Never used.
	2001–2004	Flag of Admiral of the Indian Navy
	2001–2004	Flag of Vice Admiral of the Indian Navy
	2001–2004	Flag of Rear Admiral of the Indian Navy
	2001–2004	Flag of Commodore of the Indian Navy
	2001–2004	Flag of Senior Officer of the Indian Navy

Indian Air Force

Current rank flags (1980-present)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Indian Air Force	A sky-blue ensign with the flag of India in the canton, the Air Force roundel in the lower fly, and the IAF badge in the upper fly.[2]
		President's Colour of the Indian Air Force	Air Force ensign with Presidential Standard elephant.
		Flag of the Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Sky blue flag with the badge of the IAF in the center, and 5 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly. Only one person has ever been granted the right to this flag.[3]
		Flag of the Air Chief Marshal (rank currently reserved for the Chief of the Air Staff)	Sky blue flag with the national flag in the canton, the IAF roundel in the lower fly, the IAF badge in the upper fly, and 5 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly..[4]
		Flag of the Air Marshal (also Vice Chief of the Air Staff)	Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 3 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly.
		Flag of the Air Vice Marshal	Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 2 five-pointed gold stars in a vertical line in the fly.
		Flag of the Air Commodore	Sky blue flag with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle; 1 five-pointed gold star in the fly.
		Flag of the Group Captain	Flag of Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center surmounted by eagle.
		Flag of the Wing Commander	Sky blue triangular pennant with IAF roundel in the center.

Former rank flags (till 2023)

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1950-2023	Flag of the Indian Air Force	A sky-blue ensign with the flag of India in the canton, and the Air Force roundel in the fly.[5]
	1980-2023	Flag of the Air Chief Marshal (was only used by Chief of the Air Staff)	Sky blue flag with the national flag in the canton, the IAF roundel in the lower fly, and the IAF badge in the upper fly.[6]

Former rank flags (1950-1980)

The former IAF rank flags were modeled on those of the Royal Air Force, with different colours.^[7]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1950–1980	Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Never used.[8]
	1950–1980	Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Sky blue bordered with two thick golden yellow stripes and with two thick horizontal green stripes in the center.
	1950–1980	Air Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thick horizontal green stripe in the center.
	1950–1980	Air Vice Marshal of the Indian Air Force	Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with two thin horizontal green stripes in the center.
	1950–1980	Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force	Swallowtail sky blue pennant bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thin horizontal green stripe in the center.
	1950–1980	Group Captain of the Indian Air Force	Triangular sky blue pennant bordered in golden yellow, with one thick horizontal green stripe in the center.
	1950–1980	Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force	Triangular sky blue pennant bordered in golden yellow, with two thin horizontal green stripes in the center.
	1950–1980	Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force	Sky blue flag bordered with two thick horizontal golden yellow stripes, with one thin horizontal green stripe in the center surmounted by an eagle in green. Below the stripe is the squadron number.

Coast Guard

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of the Indian Coast Guard	A Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly
		Flag of the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard	A Blue Ensign with the Flag of India in the canton, and the Coast Guard badge in the fly
		Flag of the Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard
		Flag of the Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
		Flag of the Deputy Inspector-General of the Indian Coast Guard
		Flag of the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard

Paramilitary forces

See also: Paramilitary forces of India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Assam Rifles
		Flag of Rashtriya Rifles
		Flag of Central Reserve Police Force
		Flag of Central Industrial Security Force
		Flag of Railway Protection Force	Link to FLAG
		Flag of Border Security Force
		Flag of Sashastra Seema Bal
		Flag of Indo-Tibetan Border Police
		Flag of National Security Guard
		Flag of Special Protection Group

Other agencies

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Flag of Territorial Army
		Flag of National Cadet Corps
		Flag of Border Roads Organisation

Former Flags of Indian Armed Forces

(British) Indian Army

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1942–1947	Ensign of the British Indian Army	Red field emblazoned with Star of India crossed by two swords and beneath the Tudor Crown.
	1878–1947	Flag of the Indian Army Service Corps	A Blue Ensign with the Union Jack at the canton, and the Star of India crossed by two swords displayed in the fly.

(Royal) Indian Air Force

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1945-1947	Ensign of the Royal Indian Air Force	A field of air force blue with the United Kingdom's flag in the canton and the Royal Indian Air Force's roundel in the fly.

(Royal) Indian Marine/(Royal) Indian Navy

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1863–1947	1877–1892 Ensign of Her Majesty's Indian Marine 1892–1928: Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine 1928–1934 Naval jack of the Royal Indian Marine 1934–1947: Naval jack of the Royal Indian Navy	A Blue Ensign with the Union Jack at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly.
	1884–1928	1884–1892 Naval jack of Her Majesty's Indian Marine 1892–1928: Naval jack of the Royal Indian Marine	The Union Jack with blue border.
	1928–1950	1928–1934: Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine 1934–1950: Ensign of the Royal Indian Navy	The White Ensign of the Royal Navy.
	1954–1955	1954–1955: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy 1955: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy	The St George's Cross. Ensign of an Admiral in the Royal Navy.
	1934–1958	1934–1948: Flag of the Flag Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Navy 1948–1950: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy 1950–1954: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Navy 1955–1958: Flag of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy	Ensign of a Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy.
	1928–1958	1928–1932: Flag of the Flag Officer Commanding and Director, Royal Indian Marine 1934–1950: Flag of a Flag Officer, Royal Indian Navy 1950–1958: Flag of a Flag Officer, Indian Navy	Ensign of a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy.

State and union territory flags

Main article: List of Indian state flags

At present there are no officially recognised flags for individual states and union territories of India. 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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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
	Jammu and Kashmir	1947–1952	The flag was red 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.
		1952–2019	The 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.[12]

Proposed state flags

Flags have been proposed for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but neither were officially adopted.

Flag	State	Date	Use	Description
	Tamil Nadu	Proposed in 1970	The Government of Tamil Nadu proposed a design for a state flag in 1970.[13]	Grey flag with the flag of India in the canton and the Emblem of Tamil Nadu in the fly.
	Karnataka	Proposed in 2018	The Government of Karnataka proposed a design for a state flag in 2018.[14]	Yellow, white and red tricolour with the Emblem of Karnataka centred on the white band.

Banners of the states and union territories

Main article: List of Indian state flags

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.^[15][16][17]

Evolution of flags

Indian polities

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
	1320–1413	Flag of the Tughlaq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate according to the Catalan Atlas, but there is no evidence this was actually used by the Delhi Sultanate.	A gray flag with a black strip left of center.
	1490–1636	Flag of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate[citation needed]	A dark green triangular swallowtailed field.
	1518–1687	Flag of the Golconda Sultanate[citation needed]	A turquoise field.
	1526–1858	Flag of the Mughal Empire (Alam)	A flag that was primarily moss green.[18]
	1674–1818	Flag of the Maratha Empire (Bhagwa Dhwaj)[citation needed]	A saffron colored swallowtail flag.
	1716–1799	Flag of The Sikh Confederacy[citation needed]	Flag of the Nihang Khalsa Fauj showing weapons like Katar (dagger), Dhal Shield and Kirpan. The standard goes from 'bottom to top' signifying that the armies of the tenth guru are always victorious.
	1799–1849	Flag of the Sikh Empire (Nishan Sahib)[citation needed]	A triangular flag that was saffron with a green border.

Colonial India

See also: Colonial India

British rule in India

See also: British Raj and Company rule in India

Flag	Duration	Use	Description
	1880–1947	Civil Ensign of India used to represent India internationally.	A Red Ensign with the Union Jack at the canton, defaced with the Star of India emblem displayed in the fly.
	1885–1947	Flag of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India	The Union Jack defaced with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India beneath the Tudor Crown.
	1858–1947	The official state flag of the British Empire used in India	The Flag of the United Kingdom.
	1801–1858	Flag of the East India Company	A striped banner with the Union Jack in the canton.
	1707–1801	Flag of the East India Company	A striped banner with the Union Jack of Great Britain in the canton.
	1600–1707	Flag of the East India Company	A striped banner with Saint George's Cross in the canton.

Princely states

Main article: Flags of Indian princely states

French India

See also: French India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1667–1791	Flag of the Kingdom of France	Flag of the Kingdom of France.
	1791–1794	1791–1792: Flag of the Kingdom of France 1792–1794: Flag of the French First Republic	The flag of France.
	1814–1815 1815–1830	Flag of the Kingdom of France under the Bourbon Restoration	Flag of the Kingdom of France.
	1794–1804, 1830–1940, 1944–1954	1794–1804: Flag of the French First Republic 1804–1814, 1815: Flag of the First French Empire 1830–1848; Flag of the Kingdom of France 1848–1852: Flag of the French Second Republic 1852–1870: Flag of the Second French Empire 1870–1940: Flag of the French Third Republic and French Empire 1944–1946: Flag of the Provisional Government of the Fourth French Republic 1946–1954: Flag of the French Fourth Republic and French Union	The flag of France.
	1940–1944	Flag of French India under Free France	Flag of Free France with the Cross of Lorraine

Portuguese India

See also: Portuguese India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1497–1521	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	1578–1616	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	1616–1640	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	1640–1667	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	17th and 18th centuries	Portuguese Indian Naval Ensign.
	1667–1706	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	18th century	Portuguese Indian Merchant Ensign
	1706–1750	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	1816–1826	Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.
	1826–1830	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.
	1830–1910	Flag of the Kingdom of Portugal.	Vertical bicolour blue-white. Proportion of the fields: 1:1.
	1910–1961 (de facto) 1910–1974 (de jure)	Flag of the Portuguese Republic. The final state flag of Portuguese India.	Used from the implantation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910. Officially used until 1974, as Portugal only then recognised the Annexation of Portuguese India.
	1967 (proposed)	Proposed official flag for Portuguese India in 1967.	Proposal by F. P. de Almeida Langhans. Never actually used.
	1935–1961	Distinctive Flag of a Portuguese Overseas Governor-General (used by the Governor-General of Portuguese India)

Dutch India

See also: Dutch India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1605–1795	The Prince's Flag
	1652–1795	States Flag
	1795–1806	Flag of the Batavian Republic
	1813–1825	Flag of Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands

Danish India

See also: Danish India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1620–1869	The flag of Denmark (Denmark-Norway until 1814)

Swedish India

See also: Swedish East India Company

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1731–1813	The flag of Sweden

Austrian India

See also: Austrian colonization of the Nicobar Islands

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1778–1785	The flag of Archduchy of Austria

Indian independence movement

See also: Indian independence movement

Flags used in the Indian independence movement

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1906	Calcutta flag	Three horizontal bands of equal width with the top being orange, the centre yellow, and the bottom green. It had eight half-opened lotus flowers on the top stripe, and a picture of the sun and a crescent moon on the bottom stripe. वन्दे मातरम् (Vande Mātaram) was inscribed in the centre in Devanagari. The partition of Bengal (1905) resulted in the introduction of a new Indian flag that sought to unite the multitude of castes and races within the country. The Vande Mataram flag, part of the Swadeshi movement against the British, comprised Indian religious symbols represented in western heraldic fashion. The tricolour flag included eight white lotuses on the upper green band representing the eight provinces, a sun and a crescent on the bottom red band, and the Vande Mataram slogan in Hindi on the central yellow band. The flag was launched in Calcutta bereft of any ceremony and the launch was only briefly covered by newspapers. The flag was not covered in contemporary governmental or political reports either, but was used at the annual session of the Indian National Congress. A slightly modified version was subsequently used by Madam Bhikaji Cama at the Second Socialist International Meeting in Stuttgart. Despite the multiple uses of the flag, it failed to generate enthusiasm amongst Indian nationalists.[19]
	1907	Early Indian nationalist flags [Note 1]
	1917	Flag of the Home Rule Movement[Note 2]	Five red and four green horizontal stripes On the upper left quadrant was the Union Jack, which signified the Dominion status that the movement sought to achieve. A crescent and a star, both in white, are set in top fly. Seven white stars are arranged as in the Saptarishi constellation (the constellation Ursa Major), which is sacred to Hindus.
	1931–1947	The Swaraj Flag, officially adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1931. In the years 1943–1945 it was the official flag of the Azad Hind Imperial Japanese puppet government for India and the Indian National Army
	1942–1945	Flag of the Indian Legion of the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany	Three horizontal strips of saffron, white, and green, with a springing tiger in the centre.

Proposed flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1902	Design reported in the Daily Express to have been proposed as part of a series of Empire flags that would replace the Union Jack in representing individual territories of the British Empire[22]	The Cross of Saint George and the crown in the canton would have been present on all Empire flags to represent the English. In the top right would have been the emblem of the territory flying the flag, and in this case, the Star of India. A large sun in the centre symbolizes "the empire on which the sun never sets."
	Proposed in 1904, used in April 1910	Flag proposed in an issue of an Anglo-Indian weekly.[23]	Dark blue, green and light blue triband with a purple band at the hoist depicting the Orion constellation. A thin red border surrounds the whole flag.
	1921	Mahatma Gandhi's Original Proposal
	1921	Gandhi's flag, introduced at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1921
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese India, designed by Afonso de Ornelas.
	1947	Louis Mountbatten's proposed flag for India.[23]	The Swaraj flag with a small Union Flag in the canton.
	1965	Proposed official flag for Portuguese India in 1965. The proposal came after the annexation of the territories in 1961 and was part of a series of similar flags for the other colonies.	Proposal by F. P. de Almeida Langhans. Never actually used.

Dominion of India

See also: Dominion of India

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1947–1950	Flag of the Dominion of India	A horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra.
	1947–1950	Flag of the governor-general of India	Dark blue field emblazoned with the royal crest (a Tudor Crown surmounted by the lion of England, itself wearing the crown), beneath which was the word 'India' in gold majuscules. Similar to flags used by other Governors-General of Commonwealth realms.

| || 1947–present || National flag of India || A horizontal tricolour of saffron at the top, white in the middle, and green at the bottom. In the centre is a navy blue wheel with twenty-four spokes, known as the Ashoka Chakra. |}

Political flags

Main article: List of political parties in India

National parties

Party		Flag	Ref.
	Aam Aadmi Party		[24]
	Bahujan Samaj Party		[25]
	Bharatiya Janata Party		[26]
	Communist Party of India (Marxist)		[27]
	Indian National Congress		[28]
	National People's Party		[29]

House Flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–present	Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
	19th century–1952	Bombay Steam Navigation Company

See also

• India portal

• National Flag of India
• Flag of India at Central Park, Connaught Place
• Largest Human Flag of India
• List of Indian state flags

Notes

1. Around the same time, another proposal for the flag was initiated by Sister Nivedita, a Hindu reformist and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. The flag consisted of a thunderbolt in the centre and a hundred and eight oil lamps for the border, with the Vande Mataram caption split around the thunderbolt. It was also presented at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1906.^[20] Soon, many other proposals were initiated, but none of them gained attention from the nationalist movement.
2. In 1916, Suraiya Tayyabji submitted thirty new designs, in the form of a booklet funded by members of the High Court of Madras. These many proposals and recommendations did little more than keep the flag movement alive. The same year, Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak adopted a new flag as part of the Home Rule Movement. The flag included the Union Jack in the upper left corner, a star and crescent in the upper right, and seven stars displayed diagonally from the lower right, on a background of five red and four green alternating bands. The flag resulted in the first governmental initiative against any nationalistic flag, as a magistrate in Coimbatore banned its use. The ban was followed by a public debate on the function and importance of a national flag.^[21]