Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Independence Day 2026: 10 facts about the Tiranga's evolution
India is a big country that will soon celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026.
Long ago, Britain ruled over India for about two hundred years.
Many brave people worked hard and sacrificed a lot to make India free in 1947.
India's national flag is called the Tiranga, which means "three colours."
It has a saffron stripe, a white stripe and a green stripe, with a navy blue wheel with 24 spokes in the middle.
The saffron stands for courage and sacrifice, white stands for honesty, peace and purity, and green stands for prosperity.
The flag changed many times over the years before it looked like it does today.
The very first unofficial flag was shown in 1906 in Calcutta and had red, yellow and green stripes.
Today's flag was designed by a freedom fighter named Pingali Venkayya.
There are special rules for the flag: it must be made of Khadi cloth, and it must be hoisted during the daytime with the saffron colour on top.
India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, marking freedom from British rule in 1947.
The Tiranga is a horizontal flag with saffron, white and green stripes and a navy blue 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra at its centre.
The first unofficial Indian flag was hoisted on August 7, 1906, at Parsi Bagan Square in then Calcutta.
Madam Bhikaji Cama unfurled an early nationalist flag at the International Socialist Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, on August 22, 1907.
The current flag, designed by Pingali Venkayya, must be made of Khadi, with the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha holding sole manufacturing rights.
A 2002 Supreme Court of India ruling gave all citizens the right to hoist the flag, which was previously restricted to Independence Day and Republic Day.
- Who
- The people of India, who will see the Prime Minister hoist the national flag at Red Fort; historical figures include Mahatma Gandhi, Madam Bhikaji Cama, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Pingali Venkayya.
- What
- India's 80th Independence Day celebrations, highlighted by 10 facts about the history, design and rules of the Tiranga national flag.
- When
- August 15, 2026 (Independence Day); the flag's history spans from 1906 to the present day.
- Where
- India, including Red Fort for the main ceremony, with key flag milestones in Calcutta, Stuttgart in Germany, and Hubli.
- Why
- To commemorate India's freedom from British colonial rule in 1947 and pay homage to those who sacrificed for independence.
- Event
- 80th Independence Day
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Independence from
- British rule, 1947
- Flag colours
- Saffron, white and green with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra
- Ashoka Chakra
- 24-spoke wheel at the centre
- Flag designer
- Pingali Venkayya, educationist and freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh
- First unofficial flag
- Hoisted August 7, 1906, at Parsi Bagan Square, Calcutta
- Sole manufacturer
- Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha, Hubli