National Symbols of India
Rashtriya Chinh — Complete List

The National Song of India is Vande Mataram (वन्दे मातरम्), composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji in 1875. It was first published in his novel Anandamath (1882) and became a powerful source of inspiration for freedom fighters during the Indian independence movement.

The song was first sung at the political session of the Indian National Congress in 1896 by Rabindranath Tagore. The first two stanzas were given equal status as the National Anthem in January 1950 by the Constituent Assembly, though Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the formal National Anthem.

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलाम् सुफलाम् मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यश्यामलाम् मातरम्।
वन्दे मातरम्।।

शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीम्
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीम्
सुहासिनीम् सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदाम् वरदाम् मातरम्।।

The song personifies India as a mother goddess, celebrating her natural bounty — flowing rivers, fertile lands, and the beauty of her forests and skies. It calls upon Indians to honour and protect their motherland with devotion and pride.

The National Anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana (जन गण मन), composed in Bangla by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The first stanza of his song Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata was adopted as the National Anthem by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950.

The full version of the anthem takes approximately 52 seconds to sing. A shorter version consisting of the first and last lines takes about 20 seconds. The anthem is sung at the beginning of official government functions, school assemblies, and important national events.

जन-गण-मन अधिनायक जय हे
भारत भाग्य विधाता।
पंजाब-सिंध-गुजरात-मराठा,
द्राविड़-उत्कल-बंग
विंध्य-हिमाचल-यमुना-गंगा,
उच्छल-जलधि-तरंग
तव शुभ नामे जागे,
तव शुभ आशिष मांगे,
गाहे तव जय गाथा।
जन-गण-मंगलदायक जय हे
भारत भाग्य विधाता।
जय हे! जय हे! जय हे!
जय जय जय जय हे।।

The National Flag of India, popularly known as the Tiranga (Tricolour), is a horizontal tricolour of India Saffron, White, and India Green. At the centre of the white band is a navy blue Ashoka Chakra — the wheel of law — with 24 spokes. The flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya and adopted on July 22, 1947.

• Designed by Pingali Venkayya (1921)
• Adopted on 22 July 1947
• Ratio: Width 2 : Length 3
• Made of Khadi silk or wool only (by law)
• Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes
• Chakra colour is navy blue

The National Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. It features four Asiatic lions standing back to back on a circular abacus decorated with a bull, a horse, an elephant, and a lion.

Below the emblem is the motto "Satyameva Jayate" (सत्यमेव जयते) — meaning "Truth Alone Triumphs" — inscribed in Devanagari script. This phrase is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad. The emblem was officially adopted on January 26, 1950 — the day India became a republic.

The National Bird of India is the Indian Peacock (Pavo cristatus), declared so in 1963. The peacock is renowned for its magnificent plumage — its iridescent blue-green tail feathers adorned with eye-like patterns (ocelli) are a breathtaking natural display. Only the male peacock (the peafowl) has these magnificent tail feathers.

The peacock holds deep significance in Indian culture, mythology, and religion. It is the vehicle (vahana) of Lord Kartikeya and is associated with Lord Krishna's crown. It symbolises grace, prosperity, and beauty. The killing of peacocks is strictly prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

• India's national bird since 1963
• Protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972
• Vehicle of Lord Kartikeya in Hindu mythology
• Male has 200+ iridescent tail feathers
• National bird of India and Sri Lanka
• Lifespan of 15–20 years in the wild

The National Animal of India is the Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). It replaced the lion as India's national animal in 1973, when the Government of India launched Project Tiger to save the species from extinction. The Bengal Tiger is the world's largest wild cat and symbolises India's wild heritage, strength, and agility.

India is home to the world's largest population of wild tigers. As of the 2022 tiger census, India has approximately 3,167 tigers — representing around 75% of the world's wild tiger population. There are 53 tiger reserves across 18 states in India under Project Tiger, managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

• Replaced lion as national animal in 1973
• Project Tiger launched on April 1, 1973
• 53 tiger reserves across India
• India has 75% of world's wild tigers
• World's largest wild cat species
• IUCN Status: Endangered

The National Flower of India is the Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), an aquatic plant that holds immense cultural, religious, and spiritual significance in India. The lotus symbolises purity, beauty, prosperity, knowledge, and spiritual enlightenment — rising from muddy water to bloom immaculately on the surface.

In Hindu tradition, the lotus is associated with deities — Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and Lord Brahma (creator) are both depicted seated on a lotus. In Buddhism, the lotus symbolises the Buddha's path of enlightenment. The lotus is also the national flower of Vietnam, another cultural link between Asian civilisations.

The National Fruit of India is the Mango (Mangifera indica), rightfully called the King of Fruits. Mangoes have been cultivated in India for over 5,000 years and hold a central place in Indian culture, cuisine, festivals, and literature. India is the world's largest producer of mangoes, growing over 1,500 varieties.

The most famous Indian mango varieties include Alphonso (Hapus) from Maharashtra, Dasheri from UP, Himsagar from Bengal, Langra from Bihar, and Kesar from Gujarat. Mangoes feature prominently in Indian poetry, art, and religious festivals. Mango leaves are used in Hindu rituals and ceremonies.

The National River of India is the Ganga (Ganges), one of the world's most important rivers and the most sacred river in Hinduism. The Ganga was declared India's national river on November 4, 2008. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and flows 2,525 km through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

The Ganga sustains over 40% of India's population — approximately 500 million people — through agriculture, drinking water, and industry. The river basin supports one of the world's largest concentrations of human population. The Government of India has launched the Namami Gange programme to clean and rejuvenate the river.

• Flows through 4 states & 1 UT
• Sustains 40% of India's population
• Most sacred river in Hinduism
• Namami Gange programme for clean-up
• Supports India's largest river basin
• Empties into Bay of Bengal

Field Hockey is the National Sport of India, reflecting the country's glorious sporting history. India dominated international hockey for over five decades — winning 8 Olympic gold medals between 1928 and 1980, making India the most successful nation in Olympic hockey history.

The golden era of Indian hockey produced legendary players including Major Dhyan Chand — considered the greatest field hockey player of all time — who scored over 570 goals in his career, and Balbir Singh Sr., who won three Olympic gold medals. India's hockey revival is now underway with the national team winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — the first Olympic medal in 41 years.