“On Martyrs’ Day work, movement to be stopped for two minutes throughout the country at 11.00 A.M”-MHA to Chief Secretaries
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ January 22,2026
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued instructions to all the chief secretaries of the states, administrators of all the union territories to observe two minutes’ silence at 11:00 AM, throughout the country.
As per the letter issued by Kamlesh Rabidas, Under Secretary to Govt of India to all the bureaucratic heads of state, union territories’ “ I am directed to say that on 30th January, every year, two minutes’ silence is observed at 11.00 AM., throughout the country, in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for India’s freedom.”
As per the instructions “Silence should be observed and work and movement stopped for two minutes throughout the country at 11.00 A.M. on 30th January”.
As per the letter “Wherever feasible, the commencement and termination of the two minutes’ silence period should be indicated by sound of siren or Army guns. Sirens should be sounded from 10.59 hours till 11.00 hours and after two minutes, all clear sirens should again be sounded from 11.02 hours till 11.03 hours. This procedure may be adopted where sirens exist. On hearing the signal (wherever available), all persons would stand up and observe the silence. At places where no signal systems is available, suitable instructions can be issued to all concerned for observing the silence for two minutes at 11.00 A.M.”
The MHA authorities has pointed out that “In the past, it has been observed that while two minutes’ silence is observed in some offices, the general public goes about its occupation in the ordinary course, unmindful of the solemnity of the occasion. The States/Union Territories Governments are requested to ensure that the Martyrs’ Day is observed with due solemnity.States/Union Territories Government may issue instructions to all educational institutions and Public Sector Enterprises under their control for observance of the Martyrs’ Day, accordingly.”
