India is to allow national sports teams and fashion designers to display the country's tricolour on clothes -- but not below the belt.

The cabinet has approved an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. This removes sweeping restrictions on the display of the national flag provided clothes do not show "disrespect", local media reported Wednesday.

The tricolour -- of orange, white and green with a wheel of time in the centre -- can now be worn by national sports players, on national costume and on military uniforms according to the amendment to be

introduced into parliament, the Hindustan Times reported.

However the flag cannot appear on lingerie or other accessories worn below the waist, the newspaper said. Embroidering or printing it on cushions, gloves, handkerchiefs or napkins remains forbidden.

The decision to amend the law was sparked by a home ministry decree in February that banned cricketers and other sports stars from displaying the flag anywhere on their kit.

This included star batsman Sachin Tendulkar's helmet or captain Sourav Ganguly's trademark batting gloves painted in the colours of the Indian flag.