This is a list of flags used in India. For more information about the national flag, visit the article Flag of India.
The flag is not officially or unofficially the Karanataka Flag. It is actually the flag of a political party "Kannada Paksha" which was formed in 1965 by Mr Ma. Ramamurthy. Though the party did not last long, the flag stayed on, and is now in the sentiments of the people as the flag which represents Karnataka. Now people use this flag for the Kannada Rajotsava and any protests or kannada-oriented celebrations.
The significance of the yellow and red colours in the flag - they stand for Arshina (Tumeric) and Kumkuma (Vermilion) respectively[3]. The Yellow and Red colours signify Peace and Courage respectively.
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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 |
Presidential flag
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Flag of the President 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; 4th quarter: lotus vase from Sarnath to represent prosperity The flag is similar to the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. |
Ensigns
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 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 |
Military flags
| 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 Indian Navy | A British White Ensign with the flag of India in the canton | |
 | 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 | |
 | 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 | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Admiral of the Indian Navy rank flag |
States and Union territorial flags
De jure state flags
The states and Union territories do not have official flags, except for Jammu and Kashmir.[1]| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Jammu and Kashmir | 1972–present | Flag of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir | The flag is red to symbolize labour, with three white vertical stripes in the hoist (which do not run the whole height of the flag). The stripes stand for the three divisions of the region namely; (Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh). On the right side of the flag is a white plough with the handle facing the stripes. The ratio of the flag to its width is 3:2. |
De facto state flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 Karnataka | 1965–present | Kannada flag, used as a de facto state flag in Karnataka[2] | Two horizontal strips of equal length and breadth with yellow strip on the top and red strip at the bottom. |
The flag is not officially or unofficially the Karanataka Flag. It is actually the flag of a political party "Kannada Paksha" which was formed in 1965 by Mr Ma. Ramamurthy. Though the party did not last long, the flag stayed on, and is now in the sentiments of the people as the flag which represents Karnataka. Now people use this flag for the Kannada Rajotsava and any protests or kannada-oriented celebrations.
The significance of the yellow and red colours in the flag - they stand for Arshina (Tumeric) and Kumkuma (Vermilion) respectively[3]. The Yellow and Red colours signify Peace and Courage respectively.
Historical
Pre-colonial states
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1526–1857 | Flag of the Mughal Empire | A dark moss-green flag with a rising sun, partially eclipsed by a couching lion |
 | 1674–1818 | Flag of the Maratha Empire[4] | A saffron-coloured swallowtail flag |
British India
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1858–1947 | The official state flag of the Indian Empire for use on land | The flag of the United Kingdom |
 | c. 1885–1947 | Flag of the Governor-General of India | The Union Flag defaced with the insignia of the Order of the Star of India beneath the Imperial Crown of India |
 | c. 1880–1947 | An unofficial, or semi-official land flag used to represent British India in international events and associations | A Red Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly |
 | 1863–1947 | 1879–1928 ensign of Her Majesty's Indian Marine / Royal Indian Marine 1928–1947 naval jack of the Royal Indian Marine / Royal Indian Navy | A Blue Ensign with the Union Flag at the canton, and the Star of India displayed in the fly |
 | 1928–1947 | Ensign of the Royal Indian Marine / Royal Indian Navy | The White Ensign of the Royal Navy[5] |
Flags used by the Indian independence movement
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1906 | Flag of Calcutta | 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. |
 | 1907 | An early Indian nationalist flag | |
 | 1907 | An early Indian nationalist flag | |
 | 1917 | Flag of the Home Rule Movement | 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. |
 | 1921 | Gandhi's flag, introduced at the Indian National Congress meeting in 1921 | |
 | 1923–1947 | The Swaraj Flag, officially adopted by the Congress in 1931 | |
 | 1942–1945 | Flag of Provisional Government of Free India | Three horizontal strips of saffron, white, and green, with a springing tiger in the center Although this symbolized the armed resistance of the Azad Hind Movement lead by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (as opposed to Gandhian pacifism), the 1931 flag of the Indian National Congress was used when the Indian National Army hoisted its flag in Moirang, Manipur. Both flags were used interchangeably. |
