By: Dr Avi Verma

The Union government has issued detailed guidelines on the singing and performance of Vande Mataram, India’s national song, as the nation marks 150 years of the iconic composition.

The new protocol, released by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), provides clarity on when and how the song should be rendered at official functions, schools, and ceremonial occasions across the country.

According to the guidelines, the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram, with a total duration of approximately three minutes and ten seconds, are to be sung or played at government events. In the past, it was common practice to render only the first two stanzas during formal programs.

The advisory further specifies that when both Vande Mataram and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are performed at the same event, the national song will precede the national anthem. Attendees at official ceremonies are expected to stand as a mark of respect when Vande Mataram is played or sung.

Schools have also been advised to incorporate the national song into their morning assemblies and formal functions. Additionally, the guidelines recommend its inclusion at important state ceremonies, including events involving constitutional authorities such as the President and Governors.

Officials said the objective of the new framework is to bring uniformity and consistency in the observance of the national song during public and government functions.

There is no change in the constitutional status of the national anthem, which continues to remain India’s official anthem. Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, remains the national song and a symbol of India’s freedom movement and cultural heritage.