The Central Government has issued new guidelines, according to which six verses of Vande Mataram will be sung before Jana Gana Mana in the country. Everyone will have to stand when Vande Mataram is sung in school assemblies and government programs.
New Delhi: The Central Government has said that six verses of Vande Mataram should be sung before all programs where Jana Gana Mana is sung in the country. This has been said in the new guidelines related to Vande Mataram. There are instructions that Vande Mataram of three minutes and 10 seconds duration should be sung in tricolor hoisting ceremonies and programs of the President and Governors. The order also states that all citizens will have to stand up when Vande Mataram is sung. However, there is no need to stand when Vande Mataram is played during news reels, documentaries and film screenings. It will now be mandatory to sing it in school assemblies and all such programs and places where Vande Mataram can be sung.
The purpose of this step is to promote the national anthem as well as the national anthem. Till now the Central Government had not issued any rules regarding singing Vande Mataram. But as per the new order, Vande Mataram should be sung at the arrival and departure of the President at civil functions, official state functions and other functions organized by the Government, immediately before and after the President addresses the nation on All India Radio and Television, at the arrival and departure of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor at official state functions within his/her State/Union Territory, when the National Flag is flown in parades, and whenever the Government of India issues special orders.
It is also directed that the lyrics of Vande Mataram should be printed and distributed among the audience in public programs. The day will have to be started in schools by singing Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram can also be sung in the programs of ministers. It has also been made clear in the order that Vande Mataram can be sung with or without musical instruments. It has been told in the order that Vande Mataram is sung as a salute to the motherland. By the way, Vande Mataram became a hotly debated issue during the winter session of Parliament in December 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the ruling party in this debate that lasted for about ten hours. There was also criticism from the government that Congress had cut out some parts of the national anthem.