Asia · Horizontal tricolour + emblem
How to draw the flag of India
The flag of India is three equal horizontal bands — saffron, white, green and navy from top to bottom, with Ashoka chakra. It flies at a ratio of 2:3.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. India flies at 2:3 — for every 3 units of width the flag is 2 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Divide the height into three. Mark two guide lines before you fill anything in. Even bands matter more than neat edges — the scorer cares where the colour blocks sit.
- Band 1: saffron. Fill the first band from the top with saffron. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 2: white. Fill the second band from the top with white. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 3: green. Fill the third band from the top with green. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Finish with the Ashoka chakra. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
India flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Saffron | #FF9933 | rgb(255, 153, 51) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Green | #138808 | rgb(19, 136, 8) |
| Navy | #000080 | rgb(0, 0, 128) |
What the flag means
Saffron for courage, white for truth, green for faith and prosperity, with the 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra for the wheel of law.
Common mistakes
- Drawing the Indian flag with a solid circle instead of a navy blue wheel, or putting green on top. Saffron is always the top stripe.
- Watch out for Ireland, Niger and Côte d'Ivoire — they are close enough to India that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
Saffron on top like a sunrise, green at the bottom like land, navy wheel of 24 spokes in the middle.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the India flag
What colours are on the flag of India?
India uses 4 colours: saffron (#FF9933), white (#FFFFFF), green (#138808), navy (#000080).
What order are the stripes on the India flag?
Saffron, then White, then Green — from the top down.
What are the proportions of the India flag?
It flies at 2:3 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the India flag mean?
Saffron for courage, white for truth, green for faith and prosperity, with the 24-spoke Ashoka Chakra for the wheel of law.
Which flags look like the India flag?
Ireland, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire. Watch out for Ireland, Niger and Côte d'Ivoire — they are close enough to India that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the India flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 3 out of 5. The colours are simple; the arrangement is what catches people out.
