What do the colours of the Indian flag mean?

The Indian flag has three bands: saffron on top, white in the middle, green at the bottom. In the centre of the white band is a blue wheel with 24 spokes.

Saffron stands for courage and sacrifice. White stands for peace and truth. Green stands for growth and the land.

The wheel is the Ashoka Chakra, taken from a pillar built by Emperor Ashoka more than 2,000 years ago. Its 24 spokes stand for the 24 hours of the day — a reminder that the country must keep moving.

The flag was adopted on 22 July 1947, a few weeks before Independence. By law, it must be made of khadi, the hand-spun cloth that Gandhi made a symbol of freedom.