The new Flag Code of India, which allowed private citizens to fly the National Flag on all days, came into effect on:

The Flag Code of India, 2002 came into effect on 26 January 2002. It allowed members of the public, private organisations and educational institutions to display the National Flag on all days and occasions, consistent with its dignity and honour.

Background:

• Before 2002, the display of the National Flag by private citizens was restricted to certain days, such as Republic Day and Independence Day.
• An industrialist challenged this restriction after he was stopped from flying the flag at his factory.
• The government then framed a new, consolidated Flag Code.

Supreme Court judgment:

In a 2004 judgment in that case, the Supreme Court held that the right to fly the National Flag with respect and dignity is a part of freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a), subject to reasonable restrictions.

Later amendments:

• In December 2021, the Code was amended to allow flags made of polyester and machine-made flags, in addition to handspun and handwoven khadi.
• In July 2022, it was amended to allow the flag to be flown day and night if displayed in the open or on the house of a member of the public, for the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign.

Features of the National Flag:

• It is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom, in equal proportion.
• The ratio of width to length is 2:3.
• A navy-blue Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes is at the centre of the white band.
• The flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947.
• It was designed on the basis of a flag by Pingali Venkayya.

Related law:

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act punishes insults to the National Flag.

Why not the other options?

• ✗15 August 1947 is Independence Day.
• ✗22 July 1947 is when the Constituent Assembly adopted the National Flag.
• ✗26 January 2005 does not match.