The Flag Code of India is a set of laws, practices and conventions that apply to the display of the national flag of India. Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts. Part I of the code contains a general description of the national flag. Part II of the code is devoted to the display of the national flag by members of public, private organisations, educational institutions, etc. Part III of the code relates to display of the national flag by union and state governments and their organisations and agencies. The Flag Code of India, 2002, took effect from 26 January 2002. History Earlier, the display of the national flag was governed by the provisions of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 (No.12 of 1950) and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (No. 69 of 1971). The Flag Code of India, 2002, is an attempt to bring together all such laws, conventions, practices and instructions for the guidance and benefit of all concerned. Advocate B. M. Birajdar said, "The Flag Code of India 2002 permits unrestricted display of the tricolour, consistent with the honour and dignity of the flag," The Flag Code of India has been divided into three parts:- First Part: General Description of the National Flag. Second Part: Display of the National Flag by members of public, private Organisations & educational institutions etc. Third Part: Display of National Flag by Union or State Governments and their organisations and agencies. Construction Sheet General description The National flag of India is officially described in the Flag Code of India as follows: "The colour of the top panel shall be India saffron (Kesari) and that of the bottom panel shall be India green. The middle panel shall be white, bearing at its centre the design of Ashoka Chakra in navy blue colour with 24 equally spaced spokes." It was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly of India held on 22 July 1947, when it became the official flag of the Dominion of India. The flag was subsequently retained as that of the Republic of India. In India, the term "tricolour" (, Tiraṅgā) almost always refers to the Indian national flag. The flag is based on the Swaraj flag, a flag of the Indian National Congress designed by Pingali Venkayya. Khadi or hand-spun cloth was the