National symbols of India appear in almost every general-awareness section. They are easy marks once memorised, and they often pair with questions on the Constitution and the freedom movement. Here is the complete list with the details examiners ask.
| Symbol | Name |
|---|---|
| National Flag | Tiranga (the tricolour) |
| National Emblem | Lion Capital of Ashoka (Sarnath) |
| National Anthem | Jana Gana Mana |
| National Song | Vande Mataram |
| National Animal | Royal Bengal Tiger |
| National Aquatic Animal | Ganges River Dolphin |
| National Bird | Indian Peacock |
| National Flower | Lotus |
| National Tree | Banyan |
| National Fruit | Mango |
| National River | Ganga |
| National Currency Symbol | ₹ (the Indian Rupee sign) |
| National Calendar | Saka Calendar |
| National Heritage Animal | Indian Elephant |
Details worth remembering
- National Anthem: written by Rabindranath Tagore; first sung at the Calcutta session of the Congress in 1911; adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950. Full rendition takes about 52 seconds.
- National Song: Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, was given the same status of honour as the anthem.
- National Emblem: adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath; the words “Satyameva Jayate” (from the Mundaka Upanishad) appear below it.
- National Flag: designed based on the work of Pingali Venkayya; the wheel (Ashoka Chakra) has 24 spokes; adopted on 22 July 1947.
- National Currency Symbol (₹): designed by D. Udaya Kumar, adopted in 2010.
- Saka Calendar: adopted as the national calendar in 1957 alongside the Gregorian calendar for official purposes.
Common traps
Watch for questions that swap the animal and heritage animal (tiger vs elephant), or the anthem and song (Jana Gana Mana vs Vande Mataram) — a favourite trick. Also note the peacock as the national bird and the lotus as the national flower are frequently paired in the same question. Learning who created each symbol (Tagore, Bankim Chandra, Venkayya, Udaya Kumar) adds a second layer of marks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national animal of India?
The Royal Bengal Tiger is the national animal of India. The Indian Elephant is the national heritage animal.
Who wrote the national anthem of India?
Jana Gana Mana was written by Rabindranath Tagore and adopted as the national anthem on 24 January 1950.
What is the national aquatic animal of India?
The Ganges River Dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India.
Who designed the Indian Rupee symbol?
The ₹ symbol was designed by D. Udaya Kumar and officially adopted in 2010.