New Guidelines for Vande Mataram: Must Be Sung Before National Anthem, Standing Required

The Union Home Ministry has issued fresh guidelines on the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’, outlining the protocol to be followed when the National Song is sung or played.

According to the new advisory, the audience must stand at attention whenever the official version of the National Song is performed. However, people are not required to stand if it is played in cinemas during newsreels or documentaries. The ministry stated that the guidelines aim to ensure proper decorum and respect while rendering the National Song.

Order of Singing and Official Version

The advisory clarifies that when both the National Song and the National Anthem are sung at an event, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be performed first, followed by the National Anthem. It further states that all six stanzas of the song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee will be played, including the four stanzas that were dropped by the Congress in 1937. The official version is to be recited and accompanied by mass singing on all such occasions.

Where It Will Be Played

Under the new guidelines, ‘Vande Mataram’ will also be played at civilian award ceremonies, including the Padma awards, as well as at events attended by the President, during both arrival and departure.

The ministry has also directed school authorities to incorporate the National Song and the National Anthem into their programmes to promote awareness and respect among students. Schools have been asked to take steps to popularise the singing of the National Song and foster respect for the National Flag.

Background and Debate

The move comes amid the Centre’s renewed push to popularise ‘Vande Mataram’. The song was at the centre of a heated debate during the Winter Session of Parliament in December 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the song’s historical significance in the freedom movement. He criticised the Congress for removing certain verses in the past, alleging that it undermined the song’s legacy.

The Vande Mataram Controversy

Written in the 1870s by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskritised Bengali, ‘Vande Mataram’ was first published in his 1882 novel Anandmath. The hymn later became a rallying cry during India’s freedom struggle. In 1950, the first two stanzas were officially adopted as India’s National Song. Unlike the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, there had been no formal protocol governing the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ until now.

The newly issued guidelines seek to standardise its rendition and ensure uniform observance across official events.