The Karnataka government, on September 9, ordered that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be recited at state government events. All six stanzas of the national song will be recited at events attended by the President of India, Prime Minister, or Governor of Karnataka.
The order read, “The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines regarding the official version of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ and its singing or playing at various government and public functions to be followed on a case-by-case basis.”
The Union government’s guidelines specify the occasions related to playing and mass singing of the national song separately.
“The Government has considered the need to maintain uniformity, respect and proper etiquette in the playing/singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ in accordance with the nature and context of various government programmes and ceremonies held in the State,” read the order, which saidat the decision was made after discussion in the Cabinet.
The singing of Vande Mataram had become the subject of much controversy recently, after the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 was passed by Parliament in July.
The Amendment extends the same statutory protection to Vande Mataram as that enjoyed by the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, and stipulates punishment of up to three years' imprisonment for desecration of or disrespect towards the national song.
In a July 9 order, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the official version of Vande Mataram contains six stanzas, including four controversial stanzas that are considered to be communally-charged.