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A new and important order has emerged regarding the singing of the national anthem in the political and administrative circles of Karnataka, under which the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ has been made mandatory in all official programs and government functions of the state, but at the same time it has been made clear that only its first two stanzas will be sung. This new order issued by the Congress government of the state has given rise to a new discussion in political circles, as this decision has come at a time when emphasis is being laid on bringing uniformity across the country regarding the rules of respect and singing of national songs and symbols. Through this order, the Karnataka government wants to ensure that protocol and discipline are completely followed in various events organized at the state level, although certain special constitutional posts and central government programs have been excluded from its scope.
Under this new government order, it has been clarified that although only two stanzas will be sung in general and state-level programs, singing of its full version will be allowed in some special circumstances and programs of high-ranking personalities. According to the order, if the President, Prime Minister, Governor or any other representative of the Central Government is present or represented at any event, all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ will be sung there. Through this exception, an attempt has been made to strike a balance between the protocols of the Center and the State so that there is no erosion in the supreme respect for national symbols and the guidelines of the Union Home Ministry are also ensured to be followed in letter and spirit.
The main basis behind this Government Order issued by the Government of Karnataka on 8 September 2026 is the guidelines issued from time to time by the Union Home Ministry and recent meetings. The order specifically mentions that during the Indian freedom struggle, the song ‘Vande Mataram’ had played a historic and revolutionary role in awakening the feeling of nationalism, integrity, unity and unwavering patriotism in the minds of the countrymen. Additionally, it also took cognizance of the decision taken by the Congress Working Committee last month to insist on the tradition of singing only the first two verses at party and official functions, following the historic resolution of 1937. This official instruction, issued in the name of the Governor of Karnataka, aims to maintain uniformity and dignity in public events in the state.
According to the official translation of this detailed order issued by the state government in Kannada language, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has set clear standards regarding the official version of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and its singing or playing at various public forums, which must be followed as per the occasion. The State Administration believes that despite differences in the nature and format of various events, there should be uniformity, complete respect and high level of administrative etiquette in the singing of the national anthem. Keeping this need in mind, the administrative departments and district level officials of Karnataka have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with this new rule in all upcoming government events, so that any kind of confusion can be avoided and proper decorum towards the national song can be maintained.