New Delhi: The Union home ministry has mandated that a six-stanza-long, 3 minutes and 10 seconds version of Vande Mataram be played or sung on official occasions, including during the unfurling of the Indian flag, arrival of the President at events, before and after her speeches and addresses to the nation, and before and after the arrival and speeches of governors, Hindustan Times reported.A 10-page order was issued on January 28, according to the report, in which the ministry also said that if the national song and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, are sung or played together, then Vande Mataram should be played first, and that the audience shall stand in attention during the song.“Whenever the official version of the national song is sung, or played, the audience shall stand to attention. 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 note issued in English and Hindi to all states and Union territories, ministries and constitutional bodies, reportedly read.Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote ‘Bande Mataram’ in the late 19th century in Sanskritised Bengali. The original version consisted of six stanzas. The song was first inserted into the pages of his novel, Anandamath, set during the late 18th century when famine and rebellion tore through Bengal.Also read: Behind the Official Celebration of Vande Mataram Is a Reality That Can’t Be IgnoredIn 1950, alongside ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the national anthem, Vande Mataram received the honour of a national song following a decision of the Constituent Assembly, under the guidance of Rajendra Prasad, considering the historic role it played in India’s freedom struggle.However, only the first two stanzas of the song were adopted as the national song. Unlike the national anthem, so far, there was no official protocol for singing or performing Vande Mataram.The home ministry’s move, interestingly, comes ahead of the West Bengal assembly election, expected to be scheduled in the coming months. The decision also follows the Union government’s recent push to popularise the national song, as seen in a debate in parliament to mark its 150th anniversary, and in the subsequent display of several tableaux at the Republic Day parade themed on the song.Here is a list of new rules for the song:Where it shall be playedThe “official version” of Vande Mataram – now six stanzas – shall be played at all civil investitures; arrival of the President at formal state functions and other functions organised by the government, and the President’s departure from such functions; immediately before and after the President addresses the nation over All India Radio and television; arrival of the governor/lieutenant governor at formal state functions within their state/Union Territory, and on their departure from such functions; when the national flag is brought on parade; and any other occasion for which special orders are issued by the Government of India.When the national song is played by a band, the song will be “preceded by a roll of drums to assist the audience to know that the national song is going to be played, unless there is some other specific indication that the national song is about to be played, as for example, when fanfares are sounded before the national song is played”. According to the note, as reported by HT, the duration of the roll, in terms of marching drill, will be seven paces in slow march. “The roll will start slowly, ascend to as loud a volume as possible and then gradually decrease to original softness, but remaining audible until the seventh beat. One beat rest will then be observed before commencing the national song.”Where it shall be played and sungAs per the new rules, the song is to be accompanied by “mass singing” during the unfurling of the national flag, on cultural occasions or ceremonial functions other than parades.“This could be arranged by having a choir of adequate size, suitably stationed, which would be trained to coordinate its singing with the band etc. There should be an adequate public audition system so that the gathering in various enclosures can sing in unison with the choir; printed lyrics of the official version of the national song may be circulated amongst the participants, wherever required,” the note read.The note further specifies that on all occasions when the national song is sung, “the official version shall be recited accompanied by mass singing”.Where it may be played or sungThe category of events where the song may be played or sung includes school programmes, occasions involving the presence of ministers, and any other “desirable” occasion.“In all schools, the day’s work may begin with community singing of the national song. School authorities should make adequate provision in their programmes for popularising the singing of the national song, national anthem and promoting respect for the national flag among students,” it note reportedly stated.“It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which the singing (as distinct from playing) of official version of the national song can be permitted. 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,” it added.Commemoration of 150 years of Vande MataramThe Narendra Modi-led government and the BJP in other states, guided by the ideological influence of the RSS, have decided to conduct year-long celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the song. Many have argued that it is part of a larger cultural campaign that seeks to redefine nationalism.Also read: Dear Modi, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhya is Not Your ‘Da’The celebrations included a mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at 9:50 AM across public places on November 7, 2025.There was also extensive day-long special parliamentary discussion on the song during the winter session in December 2025, amid crisis-hit carrier IndiGo’s ongoing flight disruptions, rising air pollution in the national capital and other Indian cities, and the falling rupee.In his hour-long speech in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress “compromising” on the song by deciding to “fragment Vande Mataram”. He called it a “division and partition of the song”, claiming that “Vande Mataram was divided first, and then the country was divided.”