Sonowal marks National Flag Adoption Day, recalls 1947 moment
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal marked National Flag Adoption Day on 22 July, honouring the Constituent Assembly's 1947 decision to adopt the Tricolour as India's National Flag and calling it a defining moment in the country's history.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal posted greetings on National Flag Adoption Day, 22 July .
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Tricolour as India's National Flag on 22 July 1947 , 24 days before independence.
The flag features saffron, white, and green horizontal bands with the Ashoka Chakra at its centre.
The Flag Code of India was updated in 2002 to ease conditions for public display of the national flag.
The observance is part of a broader official practice of marking constitutional milestones from the independence movement.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday, 22 July extended greetings to the nation on National Flag Adoption Day, marking 79 years since the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Tricolour as India's National Flag in 1947.
Context
Sonowal's post described the Tricolour as 'our pride and identity' ('हमारा गर्व और पहचान'), calling the 22 July 1947 decision by the Constituent Assembly 'a defining moment in India's history.' He extended greetings to all citizens on the occasion of #NationalFlagAdoptionDay.
The observance falls annually on 22 July, weeks before Independence Day on 15 August, and marks the specific constitutional act that gave the republic its flag ahead of the formal transfer of power from British rule.
Policy Backdrop
On 22 July 1947, the Constituent Assembly — the body simultaneously drafting India's Constitution — resolved to adopt the saffron-white-green horizontal tricolour bearing the Ashoka Chakra at its centre as the National Flag. The decision predated independence by 24 days.
The Flag Code of India was updated in 2002 to liberalise conditions for public display of the national flag while preserving protocols around its dignity. Observance of constitutional milestones such as this gained renewed national visibility during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign around the 75th anniversary of independence.
Stakeholders and Impact
Ministerial statements on National Flag Adoption Day are directed at Indian citizens broadly, reinforcing civic attachment to national symbols. The practice forms part of a wider pattern of official commemoration of constitutional milestones rooted in the independence movement.
Successive governments have used such dates to anchor public campaigns on national identity. Sonowal, as a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam, is among several Union Ministers who issue greetings on the occasion each year.
What's Next
Attention will next turn to Independence Day on 15 August, when the national flag is hoisted at the Red Fort in New Delhi and senior constitutional functionaries address the nation. Any parliamentary discussion on updates to flag-display protocols would also draw scrutiny from civil society groups focused on national symbols.
Point of View
Making 22 July a foundational rather than merely ceremonial milestone. The BJP government has consistently used such anniversaries to reinforce civic nationalism, a pattern that intensified during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and has continued beyond it. For a senior leader with Sonowal's profile as a former Chief Minister of a border state, invoking national symbols also carries regional resonance in Assam, where identity and sovereignty carry particular political salience. The statement adds to a well-established pattern of ministers using X to mark constitutional occasions, keeping institutional memory of the independence era visible in the public discourse.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was India's National Flag adopted?
India's National Flag, the Tricolour, was formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947 , weeks before independence on 15 August 1947.
What is National Flag Adoption Day?
National Flag Adoption Day is observed annually on 22 July to commemorate the Constituent Assembly's 1947 resolution adopting the saffron-white-green Tricolour with the Ashoka Chakra as India's National Flag.
What does the Tricolour represent?
The Tricolour's three horizontal bands — saffron, white, and green — represent courage and sacrifice, peace and truth, and faith and chivalry respectively, while the Ashoka Chakra at the centre symbolises the wheel of law and progress.
What is the Flag Code of India?
The Flag Code of India , updated in 2002 , governs the display and use of the national flag, liberalising conditions for citizens to fly the Tricolour while preserving protocols around its dignity.
Who is Sarbananda Sonowal?
Sarbananda Sonowal is the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways , a senior BJP leader, and a former Chief Minister of Assam .
