In a post on X, Mr. Tharoor said he respected both the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and the National Song, Vande Mataram, but raised concerns about the practical implications of requiring the latter to be sung in full at the beginning and end of official functions. Song’s durationMr. Tharoor noted that while Jana Gana Mana takes about 52 seconds to sing, a full rendition of Vande Mataram lasts around three minutes and 10 seconds. The Congress leader said he feared that the legislation’s intended objective of promoting greater respect for the National Song might not be achieved and could instead produce the opposite effect. President Droupadi Murmu recently gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends to Vande Mataram the same statutory protection currently available to the National Anthem. The legislation, passed by Parliament last month, makes intentional prevention of the singing of Vande Mataram or disruption of an assembly engaged in such singing a punishable offence.