The rendition of the national song was followed by the national anthem.
In a first, the full version of ” Vande Mataram “, which was recently accorded the same legal protection as the national anthem, was played before and at the conclusion of President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day on Friday.
In her address, the President recalled the pivotal role played by the national song during India’s freedom struggle. “During our freedom struggle, people with diverse ideologies were united by one common goal – India’s independence. Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar embodied the highest ideals of social reform and patriotism. I humbly bow to all those great sons and daughters of Bharat Mata whose ideals guided our country to its freedom and its progress thereafter.
The Bill was cleared by the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2026 before being passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30.
During the Swadeshi Movement, the song Vande Mataram became a song of the masses,” she said. Paying tributes to the leaders of the independence movement, President Murmu said, “Countless Indians plunged themselves into our freedom struggle under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. The President on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which grants “Vande Mataram” the same legal status as the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”. The Union Home Ministry has also said that for the first time during the official Independence Day celebrations, “Vande Mataram” will be sung from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort.
