National Symbols
Comprehensive information about India's national symbols including national anthem, national animal, national bird, national flower and other important national identities
Learning Content
National Symbols of India - Introduction
National Symbolsare the main symbols of a country's identity, culture, heritage and pride.
🇮🇳 Major National Symbols of India
📋 National Symbols - Quick View
| Symbol | Name | English | Reason for choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎵 | National Anthem | Jana Gana Mana | Composed by Rabindranath Tagore |
| 🎶 | National Anthem | Vande Mataram | Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| 🚩 | National flag | Tricolor (Tiranga) | Three colors - Courage, Peace, Prosperity |
| 🦁 | National symbol | State Emblem | Ashoka symbol - Sarnath |
| 🐅 | National animal | Bengal Tiger | Strength, power, agility |
| 🦚 | National bird | Indian Peacock | Beauty, majesty, Indian culture |
| 🪷 | National flower | Lotus | Purity, spirituality, prosperity |
| 🐘 | National heritage animal | Indian Elephant | Culture, knowledge, tradition |
| 🐬 | National aquatic animal | Ganges River Dolphin | Protection of river environment |
| 🥭 | National fruit | Mango | The king of fruits of India |
| 🌳 | National tree | Banyan Tree | Longevity, strength |
| 🏑 | National sport | Field Hockey | Olympic gold records |
| ₹ | National currency | Indian Rupee | Indian economy |
🎯 Importance of National Symbols
🏛️ National identity
- It represents the uniqueness of the country
- Global recognition
- National pride
🌍 Cultural representation
- Reflects Indian traditions
- Diversity is unity
- Historical significance
📚 In exam view
- Questions in TNPSC All Exams
- Compulsory in General Knowledge section
- Easy to score
💡 Simple memorization methods
National Symbols (Important)
- Key- National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana)
- Pa- National Anthem (Vande Mataram)
- Co- National Flag (Tiranga)
- C- National Symbol (Ashoka Symbol)
creatures
- tiger- National Animal (Bengal Tiger)
- Peacock- National Bird (Peacock)
- Lotus- National Flower (Lotus)
Plants & Food
- Alas- National Tree (Banyan)
- Ma- National Fruit (Mango)
📖 Method of reading
🖼️ Look at the picture of each symbol and memorize it
🔗 Know the history of each symbol
📝 Easy to remember with short notes
National Anthem & National Song
🎵 National Anthem - Jana Gana Mana
📊 National Anthem vs National Song - Comparison
| feature | National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) | National Anthem (Vande Mataram) |
|---|---|---|
| Written by | Rabindranath Tagore | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| Language | Bengali Language (Bengali) | Bengali + Sanskrit |
| Year written | 1911 | 1870s |
| Date of Acceptance | January 24, 1950 | January 24, 1950 |
| Song time | 52 seconds (complete) | 65 seconds (first 2 stanzas) |
| Total stanzas | 5 stanzas | 6 stanzas |
| The stanza used | First stanza only | First 2 stanzas |
| Sung for the first time | December 27, 1911 (Congress Conference, Calcutta) | 1896 (Indian National Congress Convention) |
| Place of appearance | As a soloist | From the novel "Anandamath". |
| Status | National Anthem | National Song |
| Compulsory | Respect standing everywhere | Honorable Mention (Not Required) |
| theme | India's diversity is unity | Love for motherland |
📝 Jana Gana Mana - Full Lyrics (Tamil Translation)
Bengali Original:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Jaya he, Jaya he, Jaya he,
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya!
Tamil meaning:
Leader of the people's minds! Win!
The maker of Bharat's destiny!
Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha,
Dravidian, Utgalam, Bengal,
Vindhyam, Himalayas, Yamuna, Ganges,
rising sea waves,
Wake up hearing your holy name,
I ask for your holy blessing,
They sing your success story.
மக்களுக்கு மங்களம் தருபவனே! வெற்றி பெறுக!
The maker of Bharat's destiny!
Win! Win! Win!
🎶 வந்தே மாதரம் - சுருக்கம்
அசல் வரிகள் (முதல் சரணம்):
Vande Mataram
Sujalam Subalaam Malayaja Seethalam
Sasya Chyamalam Mataram
Come on Mataram!
Meaning:
I adore the motherland!
having good water and prosperity,
A cold wind blows,
Mother of green fields,
I salute you!
⚡ Shortcuts - to remember
Jana Gana Mana - Important Information
- 1911- Year written
- 1950- January 24 - Accepted
- 52- 52 seconds time
- December 27, 1911 - First song
Both are from Bengal
- ThaGoor - Jana Gana Mana
- ShareKim Chandra - Vande Mataram
- Both were Bengali writers
Order of States (Jana Gana Mana)
- PanjChap
- SinTh
- KuZarath
- MRatiam
- Drto
- UDgalam (Orissa)
- WBengal
🎯 Important Points for Exam
- ✅ Rabindranath Tagore - Nobel Prize for Literature (1913) - First Asian
- ✅ Jana Gana Mana - First sung at the 1911 December 27 Congress Conference
- ✅ January 24, 1950 - Both were adopted by the Constituent Assembly
- ✅ Vande Mataram - featured in the novel "Anandamat" (1882)
- ✅ National Anthem - Stand and pay respect at all places
- ✅ Stand up when National Anthem is played in cinema theaters (Supreme Court order)
National Flag & National Emblem
🚩 National Flag - Tiranga (Tricolour)
📊 National Flag - Detailed information
| feature | Detail | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Kesari, white, green | Sacrifice, Peace, Prosperity |
| Ashoka Chakra | 24 Radius (Navy Blue) | Dharma Chakra – Time is always moving forward |
| ratio | Length : Breadth = 3 : 2 | Applies to all official flags |
| Cloth | Khadi or Handloom (Karpas) | Indian tradition |
| Designed by | Bengali onion | Freedom fighter |
| Date of Acceptance | July 22, 1947 | 24 days before independence |
| Flag Regulations | Flag Protocol, 2002 | Value and respect |
| Place of manufacture | Karnataka Flag Manufacturing Company, Hubballi | Only authorized location |
🦁 National Symbol - Ashoka symbol
📋 National Symbol - Detailed Details
| feature | Detail | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Four lions | towards the four directions | Courage, strength, power |
| Wheel of Dharma | 24 radii | Dharma rule |
| Four Animals (bottom) | Elephant, Horse, Bull, Lion | Strength, speed, exertion, courage |
| Lotus flower | At the bottom | Purity, beauty |
| Golden language | Satyameva Jayate | "Truth will prevail" - from the Mundaka Upanishad |
| By | Ashoka Stupa, Sarnath | Importance of Buddhism |
| Period | BC 250 (Asoka period) | Ancient Indian History |
| application | Government documents, coins, stamps | Official identification |
⚡ Shortcuts - to remember
Flag colors in order (top to bottom)
- KOK (Saffron) - Sacrifice, courage
- WWhite (White) - peace, truth
- pChai (Green) - Prosperity, prosperity
- Middle: Ashoka Chakra (24 radii)
Important dates
- July 22, 1947- National flag
- January 26, 1950- National symbol
- Designer: Bingali Venkaiah
4 animals in symbol
- YaNai - strength
- KuScreen - Speed
- Galai - labour
- CNgam - Courage
📜 Flag Regulations - Flag Code 2002
Flag hoisting & lowering:
- ✅ The flag should always be raised quickly and lowered slowly
- ✅ Fly only from dawn to dusk
- ✅ Can also be flown at night on special occasions
- ❌ The flag should not fall on the ground
- ❌ A torn or damaged flag should not be flown
Flag Honor:
- ✅ Pay attention while climbing/descending the flag
- ✅ Special regulations when used in a vehicle
- ✅ Damaged flag should be burnt separately with respect
- ❌ Not to be used for commercial purposes
- ❌ Do not use for making clothes
🎯 Important Points for Exam
- ✅ Bingali Venkaiah - Designer of National Flag (From Andhra State)
- ✅ First Flag 1906 - Designed by Sister Nivedita (Green + Red)
- ✅ 1931 - Congress Flag (Saffron, White, Green + Sarkha)
- ✅ 1947 - Addition of Ashoka Chakra to replace Sarka
- ✅ Ashoka Symbol – 4 full lions, but only 3 visible in national symbol
- ✅ Satyameva Jayate - From Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6
- ✅ 2002 - People were also allowed to fly the flag at their homes
National Animals & Other Symbols
🐅 National Animal - Bengal Tiger
📊 National Species - Comparison Table
| Symbol | Name | Scientific name | Year declared | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🐅 | National Animal – Bengal Tiger | Panthera tigris tigris | 1973 (Answer to the Lion) | Strength, power, agility, Project Tiger |
| 🦚 | National Bird - Indian Peacock | Pavo cristatus | 1963 | Beauty, majesty, 200+ feathers in a bundle |
| 🪷 | National Flower - Lotus | Nelumbo nucifera | - | Purity, spirituality, Indian culture |
| 🐘 | National Heritage Animal – Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus | 2010 | Knowledge, strength, culture |
| 🐬 | National Aquatic Animal – Gangetic Dolphin | Platanista gangetica | 2009 | On the brink of extinction, river conservation |
| 🦄 | National Heritage Animal - One Horned Rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis | - | Assam, West Bengal - Endangered species |
| 🐍 | National Reptile - King Cobra | Ophiophagus hannah | - | Longest venomous snake (up to 18 feet) |
| 🥭 | National Fruit – Mango | Mangifera indica | - | King of fruits, 1000+ varieties |
| 🌳 | National Tree – Banyan tree | Ficus benghalensis | - | Longevity, wide spread, shade |
| 🏑 | National Sport - Hockey | Field Hockey | Unofficial (but widely accepted) | 8 Olympic Gold Medals (1928-1980) |
| ₹ | National currency – Rupee | Indian Rupee (INR) | Logo: 2010 Jul 15 | ₹ Symbol - Design by D. Udaya Kumar |
| 📅 | National Calendar - Even Year | Saka Calendar | 1957 - Officially adopted | Beginning of the month of Chaitra (March 22 / 21). |
🌳 National Tree & River
🌳 National Tree - Banyan Tree
Scientific Name:Ficus benghalensis
- Longevity - lives for hundreds of years
- Aerial roots - wide spread, like a forest of trees
- Shade – cooling in summer
- Indian Village Culture - Kootathalam
- Religious Significance – Roots Brahma, Trunk Vishnu, Branches Shiva
🏞️ National River - Ganga
Length:2525 km (in India)
- By: Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand)
- States: Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal
- Confluence: Bay of Bengal (Ganga Sagar)
- Notification: 2008 (November 4) - As National River
- Holy River - Goddess Ganga in Hinduism
- Provides water to 40% of India's population
⚡ Shortcuts - to remember
Important organisms
- tiger- National Animal (Bengal Tiger)
- Peacock- National Bird (Peacock)
- Lotus- National Flower (Lotus)
- Elephant- National Heritage Animal
Plants & Food
- AlasTree - Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)
- MaMango (Mangifera indica)
- Both are specialties of Indian soil
Memorial of the years
- 1963- Peacock (National Bird)
- 1973- Project Tiger
- 2008- Ganges (National River)
- 2009- Ganges Dolphin
- 2010- Elephant, ₹ symbol
💰 National Currency - Indian Rupee (₹)
Highlights of ₹ Symbol:
- 🎨Designer:D. Udaya Kumar (PhD, IIT Kanpur)
- 📅Notice:July 15, 2010
- 🔤Joint:Devanagari "र" (र) + English "R"
- ✏️Meaning:Indian culture + modernity
- 🌍Importance:International recognition like $ £ € ¥
- 📊Number Code:INR (ISO 4217)
🏑 National Sport - Hockey
Golden Age of Indian Hockey:
- 🥇8 Olympic Gold:1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980
- 🌟Dyan Chand:"Hockey Wizard" (Major Dhyan Chand)
- 🎂National Sports Day:August 29 (Diyan Chand's birthday)
- ⚠️Note:Not officially announced, but widely accepted
🎯 Important Points for Exam
- ✅bengal tiger- Since 1973 (previously lion was national animal)
- ✅Project Tiger- 1973 April 1 - Tiger Conservation Programme
- ✅Lotus- Lives in water but does not get wet (sign of purity)
- ✅Banyan tree- Most common in Dakshina states
- ✅Ganges- Prayag (Allahabad) - Confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati
- ✅Peacock- Male Peacock only colored togai
- ✅₹ symbol- Only 5 countries have their own currency symbol
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