A Brief Note on Who can use National Emblem on number plate of Car.

Every Indian citizen holds this in high regard. The national emblem of India is also known as the Ashoka’s sign or Ashok Stambh. As this is a matter of national pride and the identity of a whole nation is attached to it, there are certain rules and regulations about its use and every Indian citizen is bound to follow these rules and regulations. 

Cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan

National emblems are often seen on motor vehicles, but there are certain rules and regulations about who can use them and where they are permissible to use. For example, no person other than those who are authorised may use the national emblem. This list includes all the former government functionaries, such as former government officials, former ministers, former members of the legislative assembly, former judges, etc. There are also certain rules and regulations on the use of the national emblem on vehicles. According to schedule 2 (regulation of use of state emblems, 2007), only certain government officials and some other statutory authorities are permitted to use the national emblem on their vehicles. Rule number 7 of Schedule 2 states that the cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan have permission to use the national emblem. The national emblem is used on the cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan if the following people or their spouses are travelling by. The people are: 1) the President; 2) visiting heads of foreign countries; 3) visiting delegates of equivalent status, such as crown prince or crown princess or the king or queen; and 4) Vice-President of foreign nations. For safety reasons, the spare cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan, which follow the president’s car, are also permitted to use the national emblem. Other Rashtrapati Bhawan vehicles, such as those used by the vice-president or their spouse, are permitted to display the national emblem.

Cars of Raj Bhawan

Apart from the cars of Rashtrapati Bhawan, some cars of Raj Bhawan are also permitted to use the national emblem. The national emblem is put on the cars of Raj Bhawan when delegates such as 1) the President, 2) the Vice President, 3) Governor, 4) Lieutenant Governor from the union territories, 5) President or Prime Minister or acting head of the foreign nations, 6) Vice President of foreign countries, 7) other foreign delegates of equivalent status, etc., are travelling by. Apart from that, the car or any other transport mode that is used by the chief of India’s diplomatic missions also carries the national emblem. Also, the cars used by India’s chief counsellor posted abroad have the national emblem. The cars that are used and maintained by the ministry of external affairs use the national emblem on them. These cars are permitted to use the national emblem only if they are on duty with foreign delegates equivalent to the rank of cabinet ministers and above. So, the cars that are used by the ministry of external affairs while travelling with foreign ambassadors accredited to India are permitted to use the national emblem. 

Apart from these, some authorities have the power to display the national emblem on cars when the following people travel in the car. The following people are: 1) Prime Minister, 2) Cabinet Minister, 3) Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the lower house of parliament (also known as the Lok Sabha), 4) Deputy Speaker of the upper house of parliament, commonly known as Rajya Sabha, 5) The Chief Justice and other Supreme Court of India judges. Apart from them, there are certain people like: 1) Chief justice and other judges of various high courts of India; 2) Cabinet ministers of a state; 3) Other state ministers; 4) Speaker and deputy speaker of legislative assemblies of different states; 5) Chairman or deputy chairperson of the council of states; 6) Speaker and deputy speakers of two Indian territories, namely Delhi and Puducherry; and 7) the ministers of Delhi State and Puducherry have the authority to use the national emblem on their cars. As mentioned above, while working abroad, the heads of India’s diplomatic missions are also permitted to use the national emblem on their cars.

Conclusion

There are certain rules and regulations regarding the use of the national emblem on vehicles. Several government organisations and statutory bodies are permitted to use the national emblem on their cars. Generally, the ministry of home affairs has the authority to issue these guidelines.