New Delhi, July 10 -- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued fresh directions to all state governments, Union Territory (UT) administrations and central ministries, reiterating the rules governing the singing and playing of the National Anthem and the National Song and calling for their strict compliance.

In a communication issued on July 9, the MHA wrote to the chief secretaries and administrators of all states and UTs, as well as secretaries of all ministries and departments of the Central government, enclosing the existing orders relating to the National Song and the National Anthem.

The ministry said the orders contain an exhaustive list of occasions on which the National Anthem and the National Song are required to be sung o...