The Indian government has directed that a six-stanza, 3-minute and 10-second version of Vande Mataram be played or sung at official events, including ceremonies where the national flag is unfurled and functions attended by the President or state governors.
In a note issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, authorities stated that whenever the official version of the national song is performed, the audience must stand to attention. The directive also clarified certain exceptions. “Whenever the official version of the national song is sung, or played, the audience shall stand to attention,” the ministry said. However, it added that if the song is featured as part of a newsreel or documentary film, audiences are not expected to stand, as doing so could disrupt the screening and create confusion rather than uphold the dignity of the song.
According to the guidelines, Vande Mataram will be played first at designated events, followed by the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Attendees must remain standing during the anthem as well. The government has also instructed schools to regularly play the national song, encourage its singing alongside the national anthem, and promote respect for the national flag.
Vande Mataram, which translates to “Mother, I bow to thee,” was composed by Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and first published in a literary journal in 1875. The song was later set to music by Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate who also wrote Jana Gana Mana. Over the decades, Vande Mataram became closely associated with India’s freedom movement and has held the status of national song since independence.
Despite its historic role, the song has remained politically sensitive. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party have long traded accusations over their respective positions on it. In December 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a lengthy debate in the Lok Sabha, tracing the origins of the song and highlighting its significance during the struggle for independence.
During the debate, Modi accused the Congress of altering and removing important verses from the song, describing it as a betrayal of its legacy. He argued that dividing the song symbolized broader divisions that later culminated in Partition.
Congress leaders have rejected such claims and have, in turn, accused the BJP and its ideological affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, of avoiding the song in the past. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said it was ironic that those who present themselves as champions of nationalism had never sung Vande Mataram.
The new directive formalizes how the national song is to be observed at state functions, reinforcing its place in official ceremonies across the country.
