MHA Issues Guidelines on Rendition of National Song ‘Vande Mataram’In February 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued comprehensive guidelines to standardise the official protocol for rendering India’s National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at government and public events.
Key Provisions:
Overview: The approved version includes all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, with a total duration of approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
Sequence: Whenever both the National Song and the National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ are performed together, Vande Mataram must be rendered first.
Occasions: The National Song shall be sung or played during designated official events.
Mass Singing: The guidelines encourage collective singing of the official version during cultural or ceremonial events involving National Flag unfurling (excluding parades), with coordinated participation through choirs and public audio systems.
Protocol: Audience members must stand in attention when the National Song is rendered, however, standing is not mandatory if it is part of a newsreel or documentary.