India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026, honoring the nation’s liberation from British rule and paying tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices secured a free country.
As Independence Day draws near, the Indian national flag will be seen flying prominently across the nation. However, once the festivities conclude, doubts frequently emerge about the proper way to store these flags. The Flag Code of India provides detailed rules for the display and handling of the national flag.
How to keep the flag properly
Citizens are allowed to retain the tricolour even after Independence Day, but it must be preserved and handled in line with the Flag Code of India to ensure the national flag is accorded proper respect.
It should not be used like ordinary disposable decorations or kept in a condition that causes it to become torn or damaged.
The Flag Code outlines various rules for handling the tricolour, including the proper ways to display and store it. Understanding these guidelines helps prevent errors and ensures the flag is treated with respect.
How to handle the tricolour
When the national flag is displayed, it must be placed in a position of honour and clearly visible, and it should never be flown if it is damaged or in a shabby condition. There is likewise no rule that forbids citizens from retaining the flag after August 15. People may fly the national flag on any day and on any occasion, as long as its dignity is preserved in accordance with the Flag Code.
After these changes to the code, the flag may be flown both during the day and at night. If it is displayed at night, it must be adequately illuminated.
How to fold the flag
Although the Flag Code outlines rules for the use and handling of the national flag, it does not specify a detailed procedure for folding it at home. However, the flag should still be treated with care and must not be crumpled or damaged. Last year, the Union Ministry of Culture posted on social media a guide to the proper method of folding the national flag. The following are the steps to fold and preserve the tricolour with due respect:
Place the flag horizontally.
Fold the white band so that the Ashoka Chakra remains visible, along with parts of the saffron and green bands.
Bring the saffron and green bands underneath the middle white band.
Use your palms or arms to carry the folded flag before placing it in storage.
How and where to keep the national flag
The Flag Code specifies that the tricolour must not be used or kept in any way that could damage or soil it. It further specifies that the flag must never be permitted to touch the ground or floor, nor drag in water. Store it in a clean, dry place, protected from moisture, dirt, and any items that might damage, tear, or stain the fabric.
What to do if the flag is soiled
The Flag Code specifies that when the Flag becomes damaged or dirty, it must not be discarded or disposed of in a disrespectful manner.
According to the Flag Code, it "shall be destroyed in its entirety in private, preferably by burning, or by another method that respects the dignity of the Flag."
What to do with the small paper flags
The Flag Code permits people to display paper flags at significant national, cultural, and sporting events.Paper flags must not be placed on the ground, left on roads, or discarded in drains. According to the Flag Code, they should, as far as possible, be disposed of privately in a manner that upholds the dignity of the Flag.