The Union Home Ministry issued fresh guidelines regarding the singing and playing of Vande Mataram, India’s National Song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.

Key provisions of the guidelines

• Order of rendition: When both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana are sung or played together, Vande Mataram shall be rendered first.
• Official version:
  • All six stanzas of Vande Mataram are to be sung.
  • Total duration: 3 minutes 10 seconds.
    
• Occasions covered:
  • Arrival of the President
  • Unfurling of the National Flag
  • Speeches of Governors and other official ceremonies
    
• Public conduct: The audience must stand in attention when the National Song is sung or played.
  • Exception: When played as part of a newsreel or documentary, standing is not required.
• Mass participation:
  • Adequate sound systems should be arranged.
  • Printed lyrics may be distributed to encourage community singing.
• Schools:
  • Schools are encouraged to begin the day with community singing of the National Song.
  • Authorities should actively promote respect for the National Song, National Anthem and National Flag.
• Constitutional position:
  • As per the Constituent Assembly Resolution (24 January 1950),
    • Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem.
    • Vande Mataram is to be honoured equally, given its role in the freedom struggle.

About Vande Mataram 

• Vande Mataram was first published on 7 November 1875 in the Bengali literary journal Bangadarshan.
• It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. 
• The hymn was later incorporated into his famous novel Anandamath, published in 1882.
  • His other notable works include Durgeshandini (1865), Kapalkundala (1866), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884).
• The song was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore.

A 1923 series of paintings by Tejendra Kumar Mitra illustrating the Vande Mataram anthem, originally published in the Bande Mataram Album, was featured at the 2026 Republic Day Parade.

Role in the Freedom Movement

• First sung publicly at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta, with Rabindranath Tagore rendering it.
  
• First used as a political slogan on 7 August 1905, during the Swadeshi Movement against the Partition of Bengal.
  
• Gradually became a rallying cry symbolising resistance, sacrifice, and national awakening.

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