Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:15am on 23 Aug 2026,Sunday India
The debate over Vande Mataram has returned during the song’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Congress has reaffirmed its 1937 decision to sing only the first two stanzas, citing concerns over religious references in later verses. The BJP-led Centre, however, has moved to give the full six-stanza song greater official protection. Parliament amended the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in July, making obstruction or disruption of its singing punishable by up to three years in jail. The Centre has also issued protocols for singing the complete song at official functions, reviving a decades-old political and cultural debate. (PC: NDTV)
