1 day ago
Nagaland Delays Vande Mataram Report Amid Student Protest
Nagaland is discussing whether people must sing Vande Mataram at official government events.
A committee studied the issue and prepared a report.
The report was not presented because Parliament had passed a related bill that had not yet been published in the Gazette.
The committee wants to wait until the bill’s final status is known.
The Naga Students’ Federation disagrees with making the song compulsory.
It says a government notification requires the song at formal programmes.
The student group has started protests in Kohima and says it will keep protesting.
The committee says it will reconsider the issue after the bill’s outcome, while taking Nagaland’s views into account.
Nagaland’s committee withheld its report on compulsory Vande Mataram pending the final outcome of a 2026 amendment bill.
The report followed committee sittings held on March 18, May 18 and June 24.
The song’s instrumental first two stanzas were played when the Governor arrived and departed the Assembly on March 2.
The Naga Students’ Federation intensified protests against compulsory singing at government programmes.
NSF President Mteisuding Heraang said the federation would continue its agitation until the state takes a clear position against the requirement.
- Who
- KG Kenye, the Nagaland committee, and the Naga Students’ Federation led by Mteisuding Heraang.
- What
- A committee withheld its report on compulsory Vande Mataram while the NSF intensified protests against the requirement.
- Where
- Nagaland, including the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and Kohima.
- When
- The issue was discussed during the Assembly session beginning March 2; committee sittings occurred on March 18, May 18 and June 24, and the NSF announced intensified action on Thursday.
- Why
- The committee is waiting for the final outcome of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, while the NSF opposes compulsory singing.
Naga Students’ Federation
Nagaland Government Committee
Compulsory singing
Naga Students’ Federation
The NSF rejects the imposition of Vande Mataram on the Naga people and opposes compulsory singing at government programmes.
Nagaland Government Committee
The committee examined the issue from a legal perspective and is withholding its report pending the final outcome of the related parliamentary bill.
Government notification
Naga Students’ Federation
NSF President Mteisuding Heraang said the Government of India’s August 6, 2026 notification clearly provided for compulsory singing during formal government programmes.
Nagaland Government Committee
KG Kenye said the Assembly’s action on March 2 complied with a Ministry of Home Affairs executive order dated January 28, 2026, concerning orders relating to India’s National Song.
Next steps
Naga Students’ Federation
The NSF says it will continue democratic agitation until the Nagaland government takes a clear stand against the requirement.
Nagaland Government Committee
The committee plans to revisit the matter after the bill’s final outcome while considering the collective views and sentiments of Nagaland’s people.
Key facts
- Committee chairperson
- KG Kenye, Nagaland’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
- Committee
- Committee to Examine the Applicability of Laws Passed by Parliament
- Assembly occasion
- The instrumental first two stanzas were played for the Governor’s arrival and departure on March 2.
- Committee sittings
- March 18, May 18 and June 24
- Pending legislation
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, had passed both Houses of Parliament and was awaiting publication in the Gazette of India.
- Protesting organization
- Naga Students’ Federation
- Protest location
- NSF office, Kohima
Quotes
Mteisuding Heraang
President of the Naga Students' Federation
“The Committee has, therefore, decided, as an interim measure, to withhold the report until the final outcome of the aforesaid Bill is known. The Committee proposes to revisit the matter thereafter, taking into consideration the collective views and sentiments of the people of Nagaland”
NDTV
“Today, Naga Students' Federation outrightly rejects the imposition of Vande Mataram against the Naga people”
NDTV
Sources
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