National Symbols of India: A Fun Guide for Kids to Learn and Remember
Introduction
Have you ever wondered what makes a country unique? Apart from languages and food, a nation also has symbols, things that everyone recognizes and feels proud of. In India, we have several national symbols of India for kids to learn and respect. These symbols aren’t just decorations; they tell stories about our history, values, and nature.
At Universal Wisdom School (UWS), we believe learning becomes exciting when kids understand the ‘why’ behind what they study. So here’s a fun and easy guide on national symbols of India for kids with fascinating facts, stories, and historical connections!
What Are National Symbols and Why Do They Matter?
A national symbol of India is something chosen to represent our country; what it stands for, what it has achieved, and how it sees itself. When kids learn these, they build a connection with their nation’s identity. A chart of national symbols of India in classrooms helps children recall them better. When you search ‘national symbols of India for kids chart’ or ‘national symbols of India chart for kids’, you’ll find colourful posters showing things like the flag, animal, flower, and more. They might seem like random images if you don’t know what they stand for, but these symbols aren’t just names, they have stories, meaning, and importance.
Before jumping into the list, let’s talk about why these symbols matter. The importance of national symbols of India and its objectives for kids is simple: they make us feel connected to our country. They remind us of India’s unity, diversity, and values. For example, the Indian flag makes us feel proud during Independence Day, and the tiger reminds us of India’s wildlife heritage.
The List of National Symbols of India
Here’s a national symbols of India for kids chart in text form before we go deeper:
- National Flag: Tiranga
- National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana
- National Song: Vande Mataram
- National Animal: Bengal Tiger
- National Bird: Peacock
- National Flower: Lotus
- National Fruit: Mango
- National Tree: Banyan Tree
- National River: Ganga
- National Currency Symbol: Rupee ( ₹)
- National Emblem: Lion Capital of Ashoka
- National Calendar: Saka Calendar
- National Game: Hockey
Now, let’s explore each one in detail!
India’s Famous National Symbols (with Fun Facts!)
Here are some of the key national symbols of India for kids learning, with interesting tidbits so they’re easier to remember.
1. National Flag: The Tiranga
💡Did you know? Pingali Venkayya designed the flag in 1921, and it was adopted officially in 1947 (KnowIndia).
2. National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana
India’s National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was originally written in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore. The Hindi version was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 24th January 1950. (India.gov – National Symbols)
The full song is composed of five stanzas, though it is the first stanza that serves as the National Anthem. The complete rendition takes about 52 seconds to perform, while a shorter version, made up of the opening and closing lines, lasts about 20 seconds and is used on specific occasions.
💡Did you know? The anthem was first sung at the Kolkata Session of the Indian National Congress on 27th December, 1911.
3. National Song: Vande Mataram
The patriotic song Vande Mataram was originally written in Sanskrit by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and played a pivotal role as a source of inspiration during India’s freedom movement. It symbolizes devotion to the motherland.
On 24th January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the then President of the Constituent Assembly, officially declared that the song, which had greatly influenced the struggle for independence, would be given equal status with Jana Gana Mana.
💡Did you know? The song was sung for the first time at a political gathering during the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. It originally appeared in Bankim Chandra’s famous novel Anand Math, published in 1882. (India.gov – National Symbols)
4. National Animal: The Royal Bengal Tiger
The Bengal Tiger is the National Animal of India. The combination of strength, agility, and grace has earned the tiger its pride of place as the national animal of India. (India.gov – National Symbols)
Among the eight recognized subspecies, the Royal Bengal Tiger, native to India, is widely found across the country, except in the northwestern areas, and also resides in neighbouring nations like Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. In response to the alarming decline in tiger numbers, the Indian government launched ‘Project Tiger’ in April 1973. Since then, 27 tiger reserves have been set up under the initiative, covering a total area of 37,761 square kilometers. (Source: India Book 2020 – A Reference Annual)
💡Did you know? India has over 75% of the world’s tiger population, making it the ‘Land of Tigers.’
5. National Bird: The Indian Peacock
The Indian peacock, Pavo cristatus, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. This beautiful peacock was declared India’s National Bird in 1963. Its vibrant feathers and graceful dance during monsoon symbolize beauty, joy, and pride.(India.gov – National Symbols)
💡Did you know? Peacock feathers were used in Lord Krishna’s crown in mythology!
6. National Flower: Lotus
The lotus is our National Flower. Even though it grows in muddy waters, it remains pure and beautiful, symbolizing spirituality, purity, and resilience. It teaches kids an important life lesson: stay pure and strong no matter how challenging your surroundings are (India.gov – National Symbols).
💡Did you know? The lotus is deeply connected with Indian art and temples, often shown under the feet of gods and goddesses.
7. National Fruit: Mango
Called the ‘King of Fruits’, the mango is loved by all kids! Sweet, juicy, and loved by all, the Mango is India’s national fruit. It represents abundance and joy.
💡Did you know? Mangoes have been cultivated in India for over 4,000 years, which makes it not just delicious to eat but also filled with historic ties (Horticulture Department, Govt. of India).
8. National Tree: Banyan Tree
The Banyan Tree is India’s national tree. With its massive branches and aerial roots, it represents immortality and stability. The banyan tree also provides cool shade and is often a meeting place in villages.
💡Did you know? Often called the “Tree of Life,” the banyan is mentioned in many Indian stories and is linked to wisdom.
9. National River: Ganga
The Ganga is not just a river, it is also considered sacred by millions of Indians, making it the national river of India.
💡Did you know? It flows through several states and provides water to nearly 40% of India’s population (National Mission for Clean Ganga)
10. National Currency Symbol: Rupee (₹)
Introduced in 2010, the ₹ symbol represents the rupee and is an amalgam of Devanagari ‘Ra’ and the Roman Capital ‘R’ with two parallel horizontal stripes running at the top representing the national flag and also the ‘equal to’ sign. The Indian Rupee sign was adopted by the Government of India on 15th July, 2010. It shows India’s growing influence in the world economy (Reserve Bank of India).
💡Did you know? The symbol was conceptualised and designed by Udaya Kumar, a post graduate in Design from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. His design was chosen from thousands of concept entries received by the Ministry of Finance through an open competition among resident Indian nationals. (India.gov – National Symbols).
11. National Emblem: Lion Capital of Ashoka
The State Emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath. In the original, there are four lions, mounted back to back, on a circular abacus, which itself rests on a bell-shaped lotus. The frieze of the abacus has sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharma Chakras. (India.gov – National Symbols).
The emblem symbolizes power, courage, pride, and confidence. Kids can easily spot it on Indian currency notes and official government letters.
💡Did you know? The motto Satyameva Jayate, which means ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’, written in Devanagari script below the profile of the Lion Capital is part of the State Emblem of India.
12. National Calendar: Saka Calendar
The national calendar based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days was adopted from 22 March 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar for the following official purposes (India.gov – National Symbols):
- Gazette of India.
- News broadcast by All India Radio.
- Calendars issued by the Government of India.
- Government communications addressed to the public.
💡Did you know? Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian calendar, 1 Chaitra falling on 22 March normally and on 21 March in leap year. (India.gov – National Symbols).
13. National Game: Hockey
Though cricket is the most popular sport in India today, hockey is still considered the national game.
💡Did you know? India has won 8 Olympic gold medals in hockey, which makes it a matter of pride (Olympics.com).
Quick Overview: National Symbols of India
| Symbol | What it is | What it represents | Fun Fact |
| National Flag (Tiranga) | The tricolor with saffron, white, green and the Ashoka Chakra of 24 spokes. | Saffron = courage, white = peace, green = growth, Chakra = progress and Dharma. | The Chakra is inspired by the one on the Ashoka Pillar. |
| National Emblem | The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath (4 lions on a circular base) | Symbolizes power, courage, pride, and confidence. | You’ll see this emblem on currency, government documents, and passports. |
| National Animal (Bengal Tiger) | The majestic tiger, also known as the Royal Bengal Tiger | Represents strength, grace, and wildlife heritage. (Twinkl) | Before 1973, the lion was India’s national animal. (Twinkl) |
| National Bird (Peacock) | The Indian peafowl | Symbolizes beauty, grace, and elegance. (Twinkl) | The peacock became the national bird in 1963. (BYJU’S) |
| National Flower (Lotus) | A beautiful aquatic flower | Symbolizes purity, spiritual growth, and rising above challenges. (Maps of India) | The lotus grows in muddy water but emerges clean and beautiful. (Maps of India) |
| National Fruit (Mango) | The sweet, juicy mango | Represents abundance, sweetness of life, and cultural significance. (Maps of India) | India produces more than half the world’s mangoes! (Maps of India) |
| National Tree (Banyan Tree) | A wide-spreading tree with aerial roots | Symbolizes immortality and stability. (Maps of India) | The banyan tree is often seen as a symbol of India’s unity spread across regions. |
| National Song (Vande Mataram) | A patriotic song from India’s freedom movement | Celebrates the motherland and inspired many freedom fighters. (Wikipedia) | Vande Mataram was adopted in 1950 along with the anthem. (Wikipedia) |
| National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) | The official anthem of India | It is sung at official occasions, schools, and national events. (Wikipedia) | Written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911, officially adopted in 1950. (Wikipedia) |
| Other Symbols | Including national currency, river (Ganga), sport (Hockey), etc. | They further enrich India’s identity and diversity. (Career Power) | The Ganga provides water to nearly 40% of India’s population |
Final Thoughts
The national symbols of India and facts for kids are more than just textbook material. They are living reminders of what makes our country unique. By learning about them, kids can grow up with more respect and love for India. At UWS, we use interactive methods like storytelling, visuals, and activities to make national symbols of India for kids learning a fun experience.
So, the next time you see the Indian Tiger national symbol of India or the Tiranga flying high, remember the stories behind them. They’re not just symbols—they’re our nation’s pride!