For decades, mornings on Akashvani began with a familiar sequence. The signature tune played, followed by a brief, two-stanza rendition of “Vande Mataram,” lasting just over a minute.

That routine changes this week.

Starting March 26, all stations of Akashvani, the national public radio service under Prasar Bharati, will broadcast the full six-stanza version of the National Song. The shift follows a guideline issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 28, 2026, which references the complete composition of the song.

The new broadcast extends the duration to 3 minutes and 10 seconds, replacing the earlier 65-second version that had been in place since 1947.

Ministry guideline prompts nationwide broadcast shift

The Ministry of Home Affairs, the central government body responsible for internal security and administrative policy, issued the directive earlier this year outlining the structure of the National Song in its full form.

While “Vande Mataram,” written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the late 19th century, contains multiple stanzas, only the first two had been widely used in official and public settings for decades.

Akashvani officials said the new directive prompted a review of existing broadcast practices. The decision was then taken to align daily programming with the full six-stanza version referenced in the guideline.

The change applies uniformly across all Akashvani stations, ensuring that listeners nationwide hear the extended version as part of the morning broadcast sequence.

New recordings introduce regional musical diversity

The initial version to be aired from March 26 has been recorded by Pandit Chandrashekhar Vaze, a Hindi classical vocalist, in Raag Des, a melodic framework commonly associated with patriotic compositions.

Officials said this version will serve as the standard rollout across stations in the initial phase.

At the same time, Akashvani has begun producing multiple regional adaptations of the song. These recordings incorporate local musical instruments and styles, reflecting the linguistic and cultural diversity of different states.

Stations in various regions are expected to adopt versions that align with their local musical traditions while maintaining the structure of the six-stanza composition.

The effort, according to officials, is aimed at presenting the National Song in a way that resonates with regional audiences without altering its core form.

A shift from brevity to full composition

The earlier two-stanza format had been a practical choice for broadcast constraints and programming schedules. Its 65-second duration allowed it to fit seamlessly into fixed time slots at the start of the day.

The extended version, at over three minutes, marks a notable change in pacing for morning programming.

Officials have not indicated any reduction in other segments to accommodate the longer duration, though programming adjustments may vary by station.

The move also places renewed emphasis on the full lyrical and musical structure of “Vande Mataram,” which has historically been performed in both abbreviated and complete forms depending on context.

With the rollout set for March 26, listeners tuning in to Akashvani’s morning broadcast will encounter a familiar song presented in its most complete form, marking a shift in a routine that has remained largely unchanged for decades.

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