Centre Govt issues fresh National Anthem, National Song guidelines

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all Central government offices and Governors’ offices to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed script, text, diction and pronunciation while singing or playing the National Song and the National Anthem, reiterating the protocols governing their use at official functions across the country.

In a fresh order issued to all Central government departments and Governors’ offices, the Ministry restated the existing rules governing the occasions on which the National Song and the National Anthem are to be sung or played, while stressing that they must always be rendered with accuracy and due



respect.

According to the MHA, the order contains an exhaustive list of occasions on which the National Song and the National Anthem of India “shall be played or sung” and the occasions on which they “may be sung or played.”

The order, dated July 9, stated that the National Song shall be sung during civil investiture ceremonies, on the arrival of the President at formal State functions and other government-organised events, as well as on the President’s departure from such functions.

It will also be sung immediately before and after the President addresses the nation through All India Radio (AIR) and television.