Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry has issued an order that all six stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ — including the last four that were dropped by the Jawaharlal’s Nehru govt, allegedly to maintain the song’s ‘secular’ appeal — shall be sung at all official functions and other occasions.The home ministry order dated 06.02.2026 lays down the ‘official version ’ of the song — encapsulating all six stanzas of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s original composition. The duration for which the song shall be played or sung shall be 3 minutes and 10 seconds,” the order states while laying down the occasions on which the ‘Vande Mataram’ shall be sung or played as well as the protocols to be observed in due honour of the national song.The MHA instructions on ‘Vande Mataram’ coincide with the celebration of 150th anniversary of the creation of the song.All members of the audience present when the national song is being played must stand in attention pose. However, this shall not be mandatory in cinema halls when Vande Mataram is being played as part of the film or during news reels “as a standing audience interferes with viewing of the film and can lead to disturbance of peace and disorder”.As per MHA’s instructions, the national song is to be played at all civil honorary ceremonies, official state functions as well as at events organised by the govt graced by the President of India. The song shall be played both upon the arrival and departure of the President from such functions.‘Vande Mataram’ shall also be played before and after the President’s address to the nation broadcast on state media like Akashwani and Doordarshan.At the state level, the national song shall be played at all official state functions upon the arrival and departure of the governor or lieutenant governor.In addition, Vande Mataram shall be played at any other occasion in respect of which the govt of India has issued an enabling order.Before the national song is to be played, there will be a drumroll — an instrument like ‘mridang’ or trumpet shall be played. In a marching drill, there will be seven steps leading to start of the national song.In its instructions regarding singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, the MHA said it would be sung at all cultural events and occasions where the national flag is being hoisted. Also it may be sung upon the arrival and departure of the President of India at govt and public functions other than formal state events.All six stanzas of the national song, as per the official version, must be sung at such events, the MHA has instructed.Informal events attended by ministers may also witness group rendition of the song.The morning school assemblies of all schools must incorporate group singing of the national song, as per MHA guidelines.
