‘Vande Mataram’ to Be Played Before National Anthem; Standing Made Mandatory Under New Centre Guidelines
New Delhi | February 11, 2026 | DeccanLive.com
The Central government has issued new guidelines regarding the song ‘Vande Mataram’, stating that it must now be played before the National Anthem at official events. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, standing during the song has been made mandatory as a mark of respect.
As per media reports, the guidelines apply to government functions, official ceremonies, and programmes held in government schools and institutions. When both ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem are played together, ‘Vande Mataram’ must be played first, followed by the National Anthem.
The new rules also specify that the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’, which lasts 3 minutes and 10 seconds, will now be played. This version includes all six verses of the song. Earlier, only the first two verses were commonly sung or played at official events.
The guidelines state that ‘Vande Mataram’ must be played during several important occasions, including flag-hoisting ceremonies, the arrival and departure of the President and Governors, and before and after presidential addresses to the nation. It will also be played at major official programmes where the President of India is present, including civil award ceremonies such as the Padma Awards.
Cinema halls exempted
The Centre clarified that these new rules will not apply to cinema halls. This means that playing ‘Vande Mataram’ and standing before movie screenings will not be mandatory. Officials said the guidelines were issued to provide clear instructions on showing respect to the national song.
According to reports, the 10-page guideline document was issued on January 28.
Past controversy
The song ‘Vande Mataram’ became a subject of controversy last year after some Muslim organisations opposed the singing of the full version of the song. The issue also led to heated discussions during the Winter Session of Parliament.
The BJP accused the Congress of removing parts of the song in the past for political reasons. The party had shared a 1937 letter written by Jawaharlal Nehru to Subhas Chandra Bose, claiming it showed concerns that certain verses of the song might offend Muslims.
During parliamentary debates, BJP leaders argued that the national song should be given the same respect as the National Anthem and the national flag. On the other hand, the Congress maintained that the renewed focus on ‘Vande Mataram’ was politically motivated, especially in the context of elections in West Bengal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier spoken at length in the Lok Sabha on the issue, alleging that the Congress had compromised on ‘Vande Mataram’ in the past. He questioned why parts of the song were removed and said the matter reflected historical political decisions.
Historical records show that in 1937, the Congress Working Committee decided to retain only the first two verses of the song to avoid communal tensions. Several senior leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Sarojini Naidu, were present at the meeting.
