Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is planning to adopt a composition as its anthem, a move not authorised under the Constitution.

"The Article 162 of the Constitution prevents a state from adopting a composition as its anthem even by an executive order," said an official quoting the ministry of home affairs, adding that it had rejected the state's proposal in this regard in 2006. "The issue of state anthem is not included either in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution or in Union, state or concurrent lists," the home ministry had maintained.

The issue of Odisha adopting a state anthem is in focus with the BJP accusing the state government of not doing its bit to accord this status to Bande Utkal Janani composed by Laxmikanata Mohapatra.

Culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said: "We will examine the policies of other states." BJP leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said: "If the government is not ready to accord it the status of state anthem, it should take steps to make it the state song."