Major Update on ‘Vande Mataram’: Government Plans Protocol Similar to National Anthem

New Delhi: The government is preparing to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ a status similar to the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, with formal rules and protocols for its rendition. In a recent high-level meeting, officials discussed whether the singing of the national song should be subject to official guidelines, conduct rules, or legal obligations, akin to those governing the national anthem. This initiative is part of the ruling BJP’s efforts to elevate the stature of ‘Vande Mataram’.

Historical Significance of ‘Vande Mataram’
Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s, ‘Vande Mataram’ became a slogan of the Swadeshi Movement (1905–08) and has deep associations with India’s freedom struggle. The BJP has criticized the Congress for removing key portions of the song in 1937, which they claim diminished its importance.

Government’s Ongoing Initiatives
The central government is organizing a year-long celebration of ‘Vande Mataram’, with the first phase completed in November 2025. The second phase is underway this month, the third is scheduled for August 2026, and the fourth in November 2026.

During the meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs, senior officials deliberated on issues such as:

• When and how the national song should be sung
• Whether it should be performed alongside the national anthem
• Possible penalties for disrespecting the song

Legal Context
In recent years, several petitions have sought a framework for singing the national song, and clarity on whether the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, could apply to ‘Vande Mataram’. While the law provides protection for the national anthem, no penal provisions currently exist for the national song. In 2022, the government informed the Supreme Court that unlike the anthem, there are no directives specifying when or how ‘Vande Mataram’ should be sung or played.

Currently, the national anthem enjoys explicit constitutional and statutory protection, whereas the national song does not. Under Article 51A(a) of the Constitution, it is a fundamental duty of citizens to respect the national anthem, with its rendition regulated through detailed executive orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The government’s proposed steps aim to bring similar protocols and legal recognition to ‘Vande Mataram’.