Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) mandates six stanzas of Vande Mataram for schools and government events

Key facts

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram will now be sung at schools and official government events.
• The official version of the national song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, has been fixed at a duration of 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
• The move coincides with the 150th anniversary of the creation of Vande Mataram and restores the original composition.
• Audience members must stand in an attention pose when the national song is played, though this is not mandatory inside cinema halls.
• The song is required to be played during Civil Investitures, the arrival and departure of the President or Governors at formal State functions, and when the National Flag is brought on parade.
• Schools are instructed to begin the day's work with community singing of the national song to promote respect among students.
• When performed by a band, the song must be preceded by a roll of drums lasting seven paces in slow march.