National Mottos and Official Seals

The phrase is a partial quotation from Mantra 3.1.6 of the Mundaka Upanishad, which is embedded in the Atharvaveda. It occupies position number 5 in the traditional Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads. The complete shloka reads: “Satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ”, meaning “Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood; through truth the divine path is spread out.”

Modern Adoption and Political Prominence

In modern Indian history, the slogan was brought into the mainstream political lexicon by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1918 during his presidential address at the Indian National Congress session. Following India’s transition to a Republic, it was formally adopted as the National Motto on January 26, 1950.

State Emblem of India

The State Emblem of India serves as the official seal of the Government of India. It is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, an ancient Mauryan sculpture dating back to circa 250 BCE, originally erected atop an Ashokan pillar at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, to commemorate Gautama Buddha’s first sermon, known as Dharmachakrapravartana.

Architectural and Visual Composition

The physical representation of the emblem differs slightly between the original archaeological artifact and the official graphic design adopted by the state.

• Visible Components: In the state emblem, only three Asiatic lions are visible; the fourth lion remains hidden from view at the back.
• The Abacus: The lions rest on a circular abacus. The center of the abacus features the Ashoka Chakra (Wheel of the Law) in high relief.
• Flanking Animals: To the right of the central wheel is a Bull, and to the left is a Galloping Horse. Outlines of adjacent Dharma Chakras are visible on the extreme edges.
• Omissions from Original: The inverted, bell-shaped lotus that sits beneath the abacus in the original Sarnath structure has been entirely omitted from the official state emblem.
• Scriptural Inscription: The motto Satyameva Jayate is inscribed right below the abacus in the Devanagari script.

Symbolism of the Animal Figures

The animals depicted on the capital carry multi-layered meanings, deeply rooted in Buddhist lore representing the phases of Gautama Buddha’s life, alongside secular governance attributes.

Institutional Usage and Statutory Protection

The application and display of the State Emblem are strictly monitored to uphold its institutional sanctity.

Permitted Display and Institutional Use

The emblem is an integral identifier of state sovereignty and is prominently placed across core public domains:

• It functions as the official seal of the President of India, the Central Government, and various State Governments.
• It is embossed on the cover of all Indian Passports and diplomatic credentials.
• It forms a permanent feature on all denominations of Indian Currency (notes and coins).
• It is authorized for architectural display on premier sovereign buildings, including the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, Supreme Court of India, Central Secretariat, and Indian Diplomatic Missions abroad.
• Members of Parliament (MPs) and top-tier civil servants, such as Indian Police Service (IPS) officers on their headgear, are authorized to use the emblem.

Statutory Safeguards and Design Protocol

The use of the emblem by private individuals or commercial organizations is strictly illegal. It is governed under the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, and the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2007. Unauthorized usage under this penal framework attracts a legal penalty of imprisonment up to two years, a fine up to ₹5,000, or both.

Key Historical Trivia for Civil Services

Design Contribution

The artistic task of sketching and illuminating the emblem for the original calligraphed copy of the Constitution of India was executed by Dinanath Bhargava, a student of the legendary modernist artist Nandalal Bose at Kala Bhavana, Shantiniketan.

Material and Engineering

The original Ashokan pillars, including the Sarnath Capital, were chiseled out of a single block of monolithic sandstone quarried from Chunar (near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh) and Mathura. These structures typically weighed up to 50 tons and were transported hundreds of miles using early riverine and land logistics.