New Delhi, February 11, 2026 — The Indian government has clarified the order of patriotic songs at official events: “Vande Mataram” should precede the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana,” when both are played. The guidelines, quietly uploaded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) website on February 6, aim to standardize protocol and ensure respectful observance of both compositions.
These instructions provide clarity on the proper sequence and etiquette surrounding India’s national song and anthem at official functions.
- The MHA guidelines, released February 6, dictate that “Vande Mataram” is to be played or sung before “Jana Gana Mana” at events featuring both.
- Audiences are expected to stand at attention during the playing or singing of “Vande Mataram,” except when it appears as part of a film or documentary.
- The guidelines detail appropriate occasions for the national song, including presidential arrivals and departures, flag ceremonies, and school events.
- Specific instructions are provided for bands, choirs, and the distribution of lyrics to facilitate mass singing.
- The MHA emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper decorum and respect when observing the national song.
Q: What is the new directive regarding “Vande Mataram” and “Jana Gana Mana”?
A: The MHA has instructed that “Vande Mataram” should be played or sung before the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana,” whenever both are included in an event’s program.
Instructions for Guidance
The MHA stated the instructions are intended as general guidance regarding the official version of “Vande Mataram,” specifying appropriate occasions for its performance and emphasizing the need for respectful observance. The national song, penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is traditionally played or sung upon the arrival and departure of the President and Governors at formal state functions.
The guidelines also cover scenarios where “Vande Mataram” appears in other media. “However, when in the course of a newsreel or documentary, the national song is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the national song,” the MHA noted.
The official version of “Vande Mataram,” approximately 3.10 minutes in length, should be accompanied by mass singing during flag unfurling ceremonies, cultural events, and other ceremonial functions. The MHA recommends arranging a choir and providing a public address system to ensure synchronized singing, with printed lyrics available for participants.
The guidelines acknowledge that determining appropriate occasions for singing “Vande Mataram” can be complex. “It is not possible to give an exhaustive list…But there is no objection to the singing of the national song accompanied by mass singing so long as it is done with due respect as a salutation to the motherland and proper decorum is maintained,” the Ministry stated.
Schools are specifically instructed to begin their day with the community singing of the national song, and school authorities are encouraged to actively promote the singing of both “Vande Mataram” and “Jana Gana Mana,” alongside fostering respect for the national flag among students.
