Ministry Of Home Affairs Directs All Six Vande Mataram Stanzas Be Sung Before National Anthem
MHA issues guideline requiring all six Vande Mataram stanzas be sung before the National Anthem at official events and schools.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued comprehensive guidelines mandating that all six stanzas of the national song "Vande Mataram," composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, be sung or played in its full official version at specified government events and in schools. The order, dated January 28, 2026, with further details in subsequent reports, defines the official rendition as lasting approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds. This marks the first formal protocol for the national song, which previously lacked such detailed rules unlike the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana." The guidelines align with efforts to honor national symbols uniformly, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the song's creation.
A key provision states that whenever "Vande Mataram" and the national anthem are performed together, the national song must precede the anthem. The MHA has directed that the full six-stanza version—including stanzas historically not always sung in official settings—be rendered on occasions such as the arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions, civil investiture ceremonies like Padma awards, unfurling of the national flag, and immediately before and after presidential addresses to the nation on All India Radio or Doordarshan. Similar protocols apply to governors and lieutenant governors at state-level events.
Audience etiquette is also addressed: all present must stand to attention during the singing or playing of "Vande Mataram." An exception is made for cinema halls or when the song features in films, newsreels, or documentaries, where standing is not mandatory to avoid disrupting viewing or causing disorder. The guidelines categorize events into mandatory renditions (often with mass singing), specific ceremonial occasions, and optional uses, emphasizing respect and decorum.
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In educational institutions, the MHA has instructed that morning school assemblies across all schools incorporate group singing of the national song. This aims to instill patriotism and familiarity with the full version among students from an early age. Informal events attended by ministers may also feature group renditions, though these are not strictly mandatory.
The guidelines represent a significant step in standardizing protocols for "Vande Mataram," which was adopted in its first two stanzas as the national song in 1950. By mandating the complete version and establishing precedence over the anthem, the MHA seeks to reinforce national unity and reverence for symbols of India's heritage. Implementation will depend on coordination across central and state authorities, with the directives expected to take effect promptly at official functions.
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