In the National Flag of India, the navy blue Ashoka Chakra at the centre is a wheel with how many equally spaced spokes?

Introduction / Context:
The National Flag of India consists of three horizontal bands of different colours with a navy blue wheel at the centre, known as the Ashoka Chakra. This wheel is an important symbol derived from the Lion Capital of Ashoka and represents the eternal wheel of law and progress. General knowledge questions often test basic factual details about the National Flag, including the number of spokes in the Ashoka Chakra, which students are expected to know precisely.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The Ashoka Chakra is the central wheel on the Indian National Flag. - It is navy blue in colour and is set on the white band of the flag. - The options for the number of spokes are 8, 12, 16 and 24. - We must identify the correct count of equally spaced spokes.

Concept / Approach:
The Ashoka Chakra on the National Flag has 24 spokes. This number symbolises the 24 hours of the day as well as continuous progress and dynamism. The design is derived from the Ashokan Lion Capital, where a similar wheel appears. This detail is explicitly specified in the Flag Code of India and is a standard fact in civics and general knowledge textbooks. Therefore, the approach is simply to recall this specific number associated with the Ashoka Chakra.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the Indian National Flag and focus on the navy blue wheel at the centre of the white band. Step 2: Recall that the wheel has many thin spokes radiating from the centre, not just a small number like 8 or 12. Step 3: Remember that the official description specifies exactly 24 spokes in the Ashoka Chakra. Step 4: Compare this memory with the options and identify 24 as the matching number. Step 5: Select 24 as the correct answer, rejecting the smaller numbers which do not match the official design.

Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify this fact by checking the Flag Code of India or authoritative descriptions in school textbooks, which state that the Ashoka Chakra on the National Flag has 24 spokes. Many diagrams and illustrations also show the spokes clearly for counting. In practice, exam questions consistently treat 24 as the correct number of spokes, and the other options are included only as distractors to test whether the learner has memorised the fact correctly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
8: This number is far fewer than the actual design and does not correspond to any standard description of the Ashoka Chakra, so it is incorrect.
12: While closer than 8, 12 still represents only half the actual number of spokes and does not match the official specification, thus this option is wrong.
16: This is also less than the required 24 spokes and is not associated with the Indian National Flag design, so it is not the correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners remember that the Ashoka Chakra has many spokes but forget the precise number and end up guessing among 16 or 24. Others may confuse it with similar wheels in other symbols or logos. A helpful memory aid is to link the 24 spokes with the idea of 24 hours in a day, suggesting continuous motion and progress. Keeping this simple association in mind makes it easier to recall that 24 is the correct number of spokes in the Ashoka Chakra on the Indian National Flag.

Final Answer:
The Ashoka Chakra on the National Flag of India is a wheel with 24 equally spaced spokes.