The national emblem of India has been adopted from the Lion Pillar which was raised by Emperor Ashoka at Samath where the Buddha delivered his first preaching.

It shows three lions standing back to back upon an abacus which displays the Dharma Chakra or the Wheel of the Law. On the emblem read the words ‘Satya Meva Jayate’ meaning truth alone triumphs.

The National Flag of India is of horizontal tri-color-deep saffron at the top, White in the middle and dark green at the bottom, in equal ratio. In the centre is a wheel inscribed on the Ashoka Pillar. It is super-imposed on both sides of the flag.

The wheel has 24 spokes and is navy blue in color. The color scheme of the National Flag was originally presented to Mahatma Gandhi by a young man at a meeting of the All India Congress Committee in Vijayawada in 1921.

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Mahatma Gandhi suggested the addition of the Charkha (spinning wheel) to indicate the Swadeshi spirit. The National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947 replacing the Charkha by Dharma Chakra or Ashoka Chakra.

The National Anthem of India is ‘Jana Gana Mana’. It was composed by Dr. Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950. The Constituent Assembly also decided that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s ‘Vande Mataram’ should also have egnal status with the Vana ‘Gana Mana’ ‘Vande Mataram’ was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel ‘Anand Math’ in 1882.

It was often sung at the meetings and sessions of the Indian National Congress from 1896 up to the achievement of independence. The music for Jana Gana Mana as well as Vande Mataram was tuned by Dr. Rabindranath Tagore.