16 official national symbols โ with scientific names, year of adoption, and competitive exam tips.
National Animal
Panthera tigris tigris
National Animal since 1973 (replaced Lion). Project Tiger started 1973. India has 70% of world's wild tigers. Bengal Tiger scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris.
National Bird
Pavo cristatus
National Bird since 26 Jan 1963. Male = Peacock, Female = Peahen, Young = Peachick. Scientific name: Pavo cristatus. Protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
National Flower
Nelumbo nucifera
Lotus adopted at Independence (1950). Symbol of purity. Scientific name: Nelumbo nucifera. Also called "Indian Lotus" or "Sacred Lotus." National Emblem base has lotus petals.
National Tree
Ficus benghalensis
Banyan Tree since 1950. Scientific name: Ficus benghalensis. "Vat Vriksha." World's widest canopy: Great Banyan in Howrah, WB. Symbol of immortality and unity.
National Fruit
Mangifera indica
National Fruit since 1950. India = world's largest mango producer (~40%). Scientific name: Mangifera indica. "King of Fruits." Known since Vedic times. Alphonso (Hapus) is most expensive variety.
National River
N/A
Declared National River in 2008 (Nov 4). Origin: Gangotri Glacier, UK. 2,525 km long. Joins Bay of Bengal at Ganga Sagar. Namami Gange programme: 2014. Ganga Action Plan: 1985 (Rajiv Gandhi).
National Anthem
Composed by Rabindranath Tagore
Author: Rabindranath Tagore (1911). Adopted: 24 Jan 1950. Duration: 52 seconds (full). First sung: 27 Dec 1911, INC Calcutta Session. Originally in Bengali. Five stanzas โ only 1st is Anthem. Abridged version: 20 seconds.
National Song
Composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay
Author: Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay (1882, in novel "Anandamath"). First sung by Tagore at 1896 INC session. Adopted: 24 Jan 1950. "Vande Mataram" = "I bow to thee, Mother." Equal status with National Anthem.
National Emblem
Adapted from Sarnath Lion Capital (3rd century BCE)
Adopted: 26 Jan 1950. Source: Sarnath Ashoka Pillar (~250 BCE). 4 lions (3 visible). Motto: "Satyameva Jayate" from Mundaka Upanishad. The original has an elephant, horse, bull, lion on abacus. Designed by Nandlal Bose.
National Calendar
Shaka Samvat
National Calendar: Saka Calendar (Shaka Samvat). Adopted: 22 Mar 1957. Committee chair: Dr. Meghnad Saha. Saka Era started: 78 CE. First month: Chaitra (= Mar 22). Used for official government communications alongside Gregorian calendar.
National Currency Symbol
ISO code: INR
Rupee symbol (โน) adopted: 15 Jul 2010. Designer: D. Udaya Kumar (IIT Bombay). Combines Devanagari "Ra" + Roman "R". Selected by open competition. ISO code: INR. Earlier: only "Rs." was used.
National Aquatic Animal
Platanista gangetica
National Aquatic Animal: Gangetic Dolphin (2010). Scientific name: Platanista gangetica. "Susu." Blind (uses echolocation). Found in Ganga + Brahmaputra. IUCN: Endangered. Protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
National Heritage Animal
Elephas maximus indicus
National Heritage Animal: Elephant (Oct 2010). Scientific name: Elephas maximus indicus. Project Elephant: 1992. India has ~60% of world's Asian elephants. Kerala has most captive elephants.
National Reptile
Ophiophagus hannah
National Reptile: King Cobra. World's LONGEST venomous snake (up to 5.5 m). Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah = "snake-eater." Found in Western Ghats and Northeast India. Builds nests (rare among snakes). IUCN: Vulnerable.
National Flag
Designed by Pingali Venkayya
Adopted: 22 Jul 1947. Designer: Pingali Venkayya. Saffron (top) = courage; White = peace/truth; Green = faith/fertility. Ashoka Chakra: 24 spokes (Blue). Flag Code 2002: citizens can fly it. Material: Khadi only (BIS certified).
National Butterfly
Troides minos
NEWEST National Symbol (2023). National Butterfly: Southern Birdwing (Troides minos). India's LARGEST butterfly. Found in Western Ghats. Declared: 1 Apr 2023. Important for current affairs questions.