India’s National Symbols represent the country’s rich cultural heritage, unity, history, and identity. These symbols are officially adopted by the Government of India and frequently appear in competitive examinations such as SSC, UPSC, Banking, Railway, Defence, JKSSB, Police, CUET, State PSC, Teaching, and other exams.

This article provides a complete list of the National Symbols of India along with their declaration or adoption dates, important facts, and quick revision notes.

What are National Symbols?

National Symbols are official emblems, objects, animals, songs, and other representations that reflect the identity, heritage, and values of India. They promote patriotism and national unity.

National Symbols of India (Complete List)

National Symbol	Symbol	Declaration / Adoption
National Flag	Tiranga (Tricolour)	22 July 1947
National Emblem	Lion Capital of Ashoka	26 January 1950
National Anthem	Jana Gana Mana	24 January 1950
National Song	Vande Mataram (First Two Stanzas)	24 January 1950
National Motto	Satyameva Jayate	26 January 1950
National Calendar	Saka Calendar	22 March 1957
National Animal	Royal Bengal Tiger	November 1972
National Bird	Indian Peacock	1 February 1963
National Flower	Lotus	Officially recognized after Independence
National Tree	Banyan Tree	Officially recognized after Independence
National Fruit	Mango	Officially recognized after Independence
National River	Ganga	4 November 2008
National Aquatic Animal	Ganges River Dolphin	5 October 2009
National Heritage Animal	Indian Elephant	22 October 2010
National Currency Symbol	Indian Rupee (₹)	15 July 2010
National Reptile	King Cobra	Common GK reference (Not officially notified by Government of India)

National Flag (Tiranga)

Particular	Details
Name	Tiranga
Adopted	22 July 1947
Designer	Pingali Venkayya
Ratio	2 : 3
Chakra	Ashoka Chakra
Total Spokes	24

National Emblem

Particular	Details
Emblem	Lion Capital of Ashoka
Adopted	26 January 1950
Motto	Satyameva Jayate
Source of Motto	Mundaka Upanishad

National Anthem

Particular	Details
Anthem	Jana Gana Mana
Writer	Rabindranath Tagore
Adopted	24 January 1950
Duration	52 Seconds

National Song

Particular	Details
Song	Vande Mataram
Writer	Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Adopted	24 January 1950
Source	Anandamath

National Animal

Particular	Details
Animal	Royal Bengal Tiger
Declared	November 1972
Scientific Name	Panthera tigris tigris
Previous National Animal	Asiatic Lion

National Bird

Particular	Details
Bird	Indian Peacock
Declared	1 February 1963
Scientific Name	Pavo cristatus

National Flower

Particular	Details
Flower	Lotus
Scientific Name	Nelumbo nucifera
Status	National Flower of India

National Tree

Particular	Details
Tree	Banyan Tree
Scientific Name	Ficus benghalensis

National Fruit

Particular	Details
Fruit	Mango
Scientific Name	Mangifera indica

National River

Particular	Details
River	Ganga
Declared	4 November 2008
Length	Approximately 2,525 km

National Aquatic Animal

Particular	Details
Animal	Ganges River Dolphin
Declared	5 October 2009
Scientific Name	Platanista gangetica

National Heritage Animal

Particular	Details
Animal	Indian Elephant
Declared	22 October 2010
Scientific Name	Elephas maximus indicus

National Calendar

Particular	Details
Calendar	Saka Calendar
Adopted	22 March 1957
Era Starts	78 AD

National Currency Symbol

Particular	Details
Currency	Indian Rupee
Present Symbol Adopted	15 July 2010
Present Symbol Designer	Dr. D. Udaya Kumar

Download Complete Static GK Book

National Symbols of India – 30 Important MCQs (2026)

Q1. Which is the National Flag of India?

A) Union Jack
B) Tiranga (Tricolour)
C) Red Flag
D) Blue Flag

Answer: B) Tiranga (Tricolour)

Q2. The National Flag of India was adopted on:

A) 15 August 1947

B) 22 July 1947

C) 26 January 1950

D) 24 January 1950

Answer: B

Q3. Who designed the Indian National Flag?

A) Mahatma Gandhi

B) Pingali Venkayya

C) Jawaharlal Nehru

D) Rabindranath Tagore

Answer: B

Q4. What is the ratio of the National Flag?

A) 3:5

B) 2:3

C) 1:2

D) 4:5

Answer: B

Q5. The Ashoka Chakra contains how many spokes?

A) 18

B) 20

C) 22

D) 24

Answer: D

Q6. India’s National Emblem is:

A) Ashoka Pillar

B) Lion Capital of Ashoka

C) Gateway of India

D) Lotus

Answer: B

Q7. The National Emblem was adopted on:

A) 15 August 1947

B) 24 January 1950

C) 26 January 1950

D) 22 July 1947

Answer: C

Q8. “Satyameva Jayate” is the:

A) National Anthem

B) National Motto

C) National Song

D) National Slogan

Answer: B

Q9. “Satyameva Jayate” is taken from:

A) Bhagavad Gita

B) Rig Veda

C) Mundaka Upanishad

D) Ramayana

Answer: C

Q10. The National Anthem of India is:

A) Sare Jahan Se Achha

B) Jana Gana Mana

C) Vande Mataram

D) Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon

Answer: B

Q11. Who wrote the National Anthem?

A) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

B) Rabindranath Tagore

C) Sarojini Naidu

D) Subramania Bharati

Answer: B

Q12. The National Anthem was adopted on:

A) 22 July 1947

B) 24 January 1950

C) 26 January 1950

D) 15 August 1947

Answer: B

Q13. The official duration of the National Anthem is:

A) 45 Seconds

B) 50 Seconds

C) 52 Seconds

D) 60 Seconds

Answer: C

Q14. The National Song of India is:

A) Jana Gana Mana

B) Vande Mataram

C) Saare Jahan Se Achha

D) Bharat Bhagya Vidhata

Answer: B

Q15. Who wrote “Vande Mataram”?

A) Rabindranath Tagore

B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

C) Mahatma Gandhi

D) Premchand

Answer: B

Q16. “Vande Mataram” was taken from:

A) Gitanjali

B) Anandamath

C) Discovery of India

D) Geet Govind

Answer: B

Q17. Which is the National Animal of India?

A) Asiatic Lion

B) Royal Bengal Tiger

C) Leopard

D) Elephant

Answer: B

Q18. The scientific name of the Royal Bengal Tiger is:

A) Panthera leo

B) Panthera tigris tigris

C) Panthera pardus

D) Elephas maximus

Answer: B

Q19. Which animal was replaced as India’s National Animal?

A) Elephant

B) Leopard

C) Asiatic Lion

D) Rhino

Answer: C

Q20. India’s National Bird is:

A) Swan

B) Peacock

C) Eagle

D) Parrot

Answer: B

Q21. The scientific name of Peacock is:

A) Pavo cristatus

B) Panthera tigris

C) Bos indicus

D) Ficus benghalensis

Answer: A

Q22. Which is the National Flower of India?

A) Rose

B) Lotus

C) Sunflower

D) Jasmine

Answer: B

Q23. Which is the National Tree of India?

A) Neem

B) Banyan

C) Peepal

D) Ashoka

Answer: B

Q24. Which is the National Fruit of India?

A) Banana

B) Apple

C) Mango

D) Guava

Answer: C

Q25. Which river is the National River of India?

A) Yamuna

B) Brahmaputra

C) Ganga

D) Godavari

Answer: C

Q26. Which is the National Aquatic Animal of India?

A) Crocodile

B) Ganges River Dolphin

C) Blue Whale

D) Turtle

Answer: B

Q27. Which is India’s National Heritage Animal?

A) Tiger

B) Rhino

C) Indian Elephant

D) Lion

Answer: C

Q28. India’s National Calendar is:

A) Gregorian Calendar

B) Vikram Samvat

C) Saka Calendar

D) Hijri Calendar

Answer: C

Q29. Who designed the Indian Rupee Symbol (₹)?

A) Pingali Venkayya

B) Dr. D. Udaya Kumar

C) Rabindranath Tagore

D) Nandalal Bose

Answer: B

Q30. Which of the following is not officially notified as a National Symbol of India according to your book?

A) National Flag

B) National Bird

C) National Reptile (King Cobra)

D) National Animal

Answer: C

National Symbols of India – 30 Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

1. SSC CGL

Who designed the National Flag of India?

A) Rabindranath Tagore

B) Pingali Venkayya

C) Mahatma Gandhi

D) B. R. Ambedkar

Answer: B

2. SSC CHSL

The National Emblem of India was adopted on:

A) 15 August 1947

B) 24 January 1950

C) 26 January 1950

D) 22 July 1947

Answer: C

3. Railway NTPC

Which is the National Motto of India?

A) Jai Hind

B) Satyameva Jayate

C) Vande Mataram

D) Bharat Mata Ki Jai

Answer: B

4. SSC GD

“Satyameva Jayate” has been taken from:

A) Bhagavad Gita

B) Rig Veda

C) Mundaka Upanishad

D) Ramayana

Answer: C

5. UPSC Prelims

The National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana” was written by:

A) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

B) Rabindranath Tagore

C) Sarojini Naidu

D) Mahatma Gandhi

Answer: B

6. SSC CPO

The playing time of the full National Anthem is:

A) 45 Seconds

B) 52 Seconds

C) 60 Seconds

D) 65 Seconds

Answer: B

7. Railway Group-D

Which book contains “Vande Mataram”?

A) Gitanjali

B) Anandamath

C) Discovery of India

D) Geetanjali

Answer: B

8. SSC MTS

Who wrote “Vande Mataram”?

A) Rabindranath Tagore

B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

C) Sarojini Naidu

D) Subramania Bharati

Answer: B

9. SSC CGL

India’s National Animal is:

A) Asiatic Lion

B) Royal Bengal Tiger

C) Elephant

D) Leopard

Answer: B

10. UPSC CDS

Which animal was replaced by the Royal Bengal Tiger as the National Animal?

A) Elephant

B) Leopard

C) Asiatic Lion

D) Rhinoceros

Answer: C

11. SSC CHSL

The scientific name of the Royal Bengal Tiger is:

A) Panthera leo

B) Panthera tigris tigris

C) Panthera pardus

D) Elephas maximus

Answer: B

12. Railway NTPC

India’s National Bird is:

A) Peacock

B) Eagle

C) Swan

D) Parrot

Answer: A

13. SSC GD

The scientific name of the Indian Peacock is:

A) Pavo cristatus

B) Panthera tigris

C) Bos indicus

D) Ficus benghalensis

Answer: A

14. SSC CGL

Which is the National Flower of India?

A) Rose

B) Lotus

C) Jasmine

D) Lily

Answer: B

15. SSC MTS

The scientific name of Lotus is:

A) Mangifera indica

B) Nelumbo nucifera

C) Ficus benghalensis

D) Pavo cristatus

Answer: B

16. Railway

Which is the National Tree of India?

A) Neem

B) Banyan

C) Peepal

D) Ashoka

Answer: B

17. SSC CGL

The scientific name of the Banyan Tree is:

A) Ficus religiosa

B) Ficus benghalensis

C) Mangifera indica

D) Nelumbo nucifera

Answer: B

18. SSC CHSL

India’s National Fruit is:

A) Banana

B) Apple

C) Mango

D) Orange

Answer: C

19. SSC GD

The scientific name of Mango is:

A) Mangifera indica

B) Nelumbo nucifera

C) Pavo cristatus

D) Ficus benghalensis

Answer: A

20. Railway NTPC

Which river is the National River of India?

A) Yamuna

B) Ganga

C) Godavari

D) Narmada

Answer: B

21. SSC CGL

India declared the Ganga as the National River in:

A) 2007

B) 2008

C) 2009

D) 2010

Answer: B

22. SSC CHSL

The National Aquatic Animal of India is:

A) Crocodile

B) Ganges River Dolphin

C) Blue Whale

D) Olive Ridley Turtle

Answer: B

23. Railway Group-D

The scientific name of the Ganges River Dolphin is:

A) Panthera tigris

B) Platanista gangetica

C) Elephas maximus

D) Bos indicus

Answer: B

24. SSC MTS

India’s National Heritage Animal is:

A) Tiger

B) Elephant

C) Lion

D) Rhino

Answer: B

25. SSC CGL

The scientific name of the Indian Elephant is:

A) Elephas maximus indicus

B) Panthera leo

C) Bos indicus

D) Platanista gangetica

Answer: A

26. Railway NTPC

Which calendar is the National Calendar of India?

A) Gregorian Calendar

B) Vikram Samvat

C) Saka Calendar

D) Hijri Calendar

Answer: C

27. SSC CPO

The Saka Era begins from:

A) 57 BC

B) 78 AD

C) 1947 AD

D) 1950 AD

Answer: B

28. SSC CGL

Who designed the Indian Rupee Symbol (₹)?

A) Pingali Venkayya

B) Dr. D. Udaya Kumar

C) Nandalal Bose

D) B. N. Rau

Answer: B

29. Railway Group-D

The Indian Rupee Symbol (₹) was officially adopted in:

A) 2008

B) 2009

C) 2010

D) 2011

Answer: C

30. SSC GD

Which of the following is not officially notified as a National Symbol according to your book?

A) National Bird

B) National Tree

C) National Reptile

D) National River

Answer: C