New Delhi – In a significant move, the Union Home Ministry has made the full six-stanza rendition of Vande Mataram mandatory at specified government functions nationwide.
The Ministry has issued uniform guidelines prescribing the official 3-minute-10-second version of the national song. Until now, only the first two stanzas were commonly performed at official events. Going forward, all six stanzas, as originally composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, will be rendered. All those present will be required to stand during its rendition.
Events brought under the mandate
At the National level, Vande Mataram will be rendered
- At civil investiture ceremonies and official State functions.
- During the arrival and departure of the President of India.
- Before and after the President’s address broadcast on Akashwani and Doordarshan.
At the State level, it will be played during the arrival and departure of Governors or Lieutenant Governors at official functions.
The guidelines also require group singing at cultural programmes, flag-hoisting ceremonies and in morning assemblies of all schools.
If both Vande Mataram and the National Anthem (‘Jana Gana Mana..’) are performed, the national song will precede the anthem.
The directive clarifies that Vande Mataram will not be mandatory in cinema halls.
Background and political reactions
The notification follows the completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram on 7 November 2025.
Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the AIMIM, said there is no constitutional provision making the singing of the national song compulsory and alleged that such a move goes against secular principles.
Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, said the Constitution grants citizens freedom of choice and warned that making the song mandatory could create religious or cultural pressure.
Earlier, Abu Azmi too had opposed making the song compulsory.
The matter was also discussed during the Winter Session of Parliament in 2025, when the Congress party had alleged that the issue was raised keeping in mind forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
