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Vande Mataram to be Played Before National Anthem: Recalibrating National Song Protocol

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 12-Feb-2026

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  • Constitution of India, 1950 (COI)

Source: The Hindu

Introduction 

In February 2026, the Union Home Ministry uploaded a fresh set of guidelines on its official website directing States and government bodies regarding the protocol for singing and playing the National Song, Vande Mataram. While no formal announcement or statement was issued by the Centre, the instructions clarify the order of performance, conduct of audiences, and occasions for playing the National Song — marking a significant effort to standardise national symbol protocols across the country. 

About the National Anthem and National Song of India 

Jana Gana Mana (National Anthem): 

    • The song Jana Gana Mana, composed originally in Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on January 24, 1950.  
    • Playing time is approximately 52 seconds.  
    • It was first publicly sung on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) Session of the Indian National Congress. 
    • The original composition is titled Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata and has five stanzas, of which only the first stanza constitutes the National Anthem. 

Vande Mataram (National Song): 

    • Vande Mataram is a poem that was adopted as the national song of the Republic of India in 1950.  
    • It was written in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1870s and was first published in 1882 as part of Chatterjee's Bengali novel Anandmath.  
    • It became a rallying cry and a symbol of nationalism, unity, and resistance against British rule during the Indian independence movement.  
    • It was sung or chanted at protests and at political meetings. Vande Mataram was famously recited by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 at the annual convention of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta.  

Joint Adoption on 24th January 1950: 

    • On the same day — January 24, 1950 — in the Constituent Assembly, the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, made a declaration that "the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic role in the struggle for Indian independence, will be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and will have equal status with it. 
    • Thus, both the National Anthem and the National Song were adopted by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950 — two days before India became a Republic. 

What are the Key Guidelines Issued? 

  • Order of Performance: The most notable directive is that Vande Mataram should be sung or played before the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, whenever both songs are performed at the same event. This establishes a clear ceremonial sequence for official and semi-official functions. 
  • Conduct of the Audience: Whenever the official version of the National Song — approximately 3.1 minutes long — is sung or played, the audience is required to stand at attention. However, an exception is carved out: when the National Song is played as part of a newsreel or documentary, the audience is not required to stand, as doing so would disrupt the exhibition and create disorder rather than add to the dignity of the National Song. 
  • Occasions for Playing the National Song: The guidelines specify that Vande Mataram shall be sung on arrival and departure of the President at formal state functions and other government-organised functions, immediately before and after the President addresses the nation over All India Radio and television, on arrival and departure of the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor at formal state functions, when the National Flag is brought on parade, and on any other occasion for which special orders are issued by the Government of India. 
  • When a Band Plays It: When Vande Mataram is played by a band, the song shall be preceded by a roll of drums to alert the audience — unless a specific indication has already been given that the National Song is about to be played. 
  • Mass Singing: The official version shall be accompanied by mass singing during the unfurling of the National Flag, on cultural occasions, and at ceremonial functions other than parades. Mass singing may be arranged through a choir of adequate size, suitably stationed and trained to coordinate with the accompanying band. 
  • Schools: The guidelines provide that in all schools, the day's work may begin with community singing of Vande Mataram.

What are the Legal Provisions in Reference to the National Song? 

Article 51A of the Constitution of India, 1950:  

  • Article 51A of the Constitution of India declares that one of the fundamental duties of Indian citizens is "to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem."  
  • While this provision expressly names the National Anthem, the spirit of this duty extends to all national symbols including Vande Mataram, whose equal status with the Anthem was affirmed by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950. 

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971:  

  • The performance of the National Anthem is regulated by law, specifically under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which protects the dignity of the anthem.  
  • Section 3 of this Act makes it an offence to intentionally prevent the singing of the National Anthem or cause disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing.  
  • The February 2026 guidelines, while not creating new statutory obligations specifically for the National Song, reinforce the spirit of this Act by formalising respectful conduct during Vande Mataram as well. 

Absence of a Dedicated Statutory Framework for the National Song:  

  • The Constitution of India does not specifically mention a "National Song." Still, it continues to be honoured and sung on national occasions, symbolising the same patriotism and unity it once inspired during the freedom struggle.  
  • This means that compliance with the Home Ministry's guidelines continues to rest significantly on institutional adherence and civic awareness rather than enforceable legal obligation, distinguishing the National Song's status from that of the National Anthem.

Conclusion 

The Union Home Ministry's February 2026 guidelines represent a systematic effort to codify the ceremonial status of Vande Mataram and harmonise its observance across states and government bodies. Both Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram carry deep constitutional and historical significance — adopted together by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, they together represent India's unity, diversity, and the spirit of its freedom movement. By establishing the sequencing of national songs, the conduct of audiences, and the appropriate occasions for performance, the government has reinforced the cultural and national importance of the National Song.