3 Things Protocols for Vande Mataram, a new BSL-4 lab, and caste based violence
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Jan 28, 2026 Ritika Chopra, national bureau chief at The Indian Express who broke a story on proposed protocols for Vande Mataram. Brendan Dabhi, health and science reporter at The Indian Express who explains the new BSL-4 lab in Gujarat. They discuss deliberations to give Vande Mataram official protocols and political fallout. They also explain why a civilian BSL-4 matters for outbreak response and regional vaccine research.
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Anthem Rules Are Highly Detailed
- The government already uses detailed executive orders to prescribe how the national anthem is to be recited and respected.
- Those rules include posture, versions, timings and penalties under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
Formalizing Vande Mataram Is Under Review
- The government is considering issuing similar protocols and penalties for Vande Mataram as exist for the national anthem.
- Discussions included whether the song should be sung alongside the anthem and on which occasions it should be rendered.
Full Song Verses Are Contentious
- Vande Mataram's omitted stanzas referenced Hindu goddesses, which earlier led to partial exclusion to preserve inclusivity.
- The current government wants to restore all six stanzas and elevate the song's stature in national celebrations.
