National Symbols of India Notes for SSC Exams

The national symbols of India are asked in every SSC exam in the form of simple one-line questions: "Which is the national animal of India?" or "Who wrote the national song?". These national symbols of India notes for SSC give all the symbols in a table, with the key facts about the flag, the emblem, the anthem and the song.

List of National Symbols

National Flag

• The Constituent Assembly adopted the flag on 22 July 1947.
• It has three horizontal bands: saffron on top, white in the middle and green at the bottom.
• The ratio of length to width is 3 : 2.
• The Ashoka Chakra in navy blue with 24 spokes is at the centre of the white band.
• It was designed by Pingali Venkayya.
• National Flag Day is 22 July.

National Emblem

• It is adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
• Three lions are visible, and the fourth is hidden from view.
• The wheel is in the centre of the base, with a bull on the right and a horse on the left.
• The motto "Satyameva Jayate" (truth alone triumphs) is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.
• It was adopted on 26 January 1950.

National Anthem and National Song

Other Facts

• The tiger replaced the lion as the national animal in 1972.
• The national calendar based on the Saka era was adopted on 22 March 1957.
• The Ganga was declared the national river in 2008, and the Ganges river dolphin the national aquatic animal in 2009.
• The rupee symbol was designed by D. Udaya Kumar and adopted in 2010.
• The national pledge was written by Pydimarri Venkata Subba Rao.

How to Remember

• Learn the symbols in pairs: animal and bird, flower and fruit, tree and river.
• Remember the writer with the work: Tagore with the anthem and Bankim Chandra with the song.
• Link the number 24 with the Ashoka Chakra and with the date 24 January 1950.

Quick Tips

• Learn the table of symbols first, then the facts of the flag, emblem, anthem and song.
• Link each writer to his work.
• Remember the numbers: 24 spokes, 3 : 2 ratio and 52 seconds.
• Read the latest changes if any symbol is added.

Quick Revision Points

• The tiger is the national animal and the peacock is the national bird.
• The Ashoka Chakra has 24 spokes.
• Satyameva Jayate is from the Mundaka Upanishad.
• Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore.
• Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who designed the national flag of India?
   Answer: Pingali Venkayya
2. How many spokes are there in the Ashoka Chakra?
   Answer: 24
3. From which Upanishad is "Satyameva Jayate" taken?
   Answer: Mundaka Upanishad
4. Who wrote the national song Vande Mataram?
   Answer: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
5. Which is the national animal of India?
   Answer: Tiger
6. Which is the national aquatic animal of India?
   Answer: Ganges river dolphin
7. Which calendar is the national calendar of India?
   Answer: Saka calendar
8. Who designed the rupee symbol?
   Answer: D. Udaya Kumar
9. Who wrote the national anthem of India?
   Answer: Rabindranath Tagore
10. Which is the national river of India?
    Answer: Ganga

How to Practise This Chapter

Revise the tables every week and then test yourself with our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the General Knowledge notes page, and also read the General Awareness notes and Current Affairs notes. Read the previous topic, Indian States, Capitals and Union Territories, and the next topic, Firsts in India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the national animal of India?

The tiger is the national animal of India.

What is the national bird of India?

The Indian peacock is the national bird of India.

What is the national flower of India?

The lotus is the national flower.

What is the national fruit of India?

The mango is the national fruit.

What is the national tree of India?

The banyan is the national tree.

Who wrote the national anthem?

Rabindranath Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana.

Who wrote the national song?

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote Vande Mataram in the novel Anandamath.

What is the ratio of the national flag?

The ratio of length to width is 3 : 2.

When was the national flag adopted?

The Constituent Assembly adopted it on 22 July 1947.

What is the national river of India?

The Ganga is the national river of India.

Is this topic asked in SSC exams?

Yes. Questions on national symbols are asked often in SSC General Awareness papers.

How many questions come from this topic in SSC exams?

Usually one question, but the number changes from year to year.