Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government has directed all state-run and aided schools to mandatorily include the singing of Vande Mataram during morning assemblies with immediate effect, as per the official notification issued by the School Education department.
The order mentions that every student must participate in singing the national song at the start of the school day, while heads of institutions have been asked to ensure strict compliance.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote, “In supersession of all previous orders and practices, the Government of West Bengal has mandated the singing of National Song of Bharat – Vande Mataram, during School Assembly Prayers before commencement of Classes in all Schools under the School Education Department across West Bengal, effective immediately.”
In supersession of all previous orders and practices, the Government of West Bengal has mandated the singing of National Song of Bharat – Vande Mataram, during School Assembly Prayers before commencement of Classes in all Schools under the School Education Department across West… pic.twitter.com/QmQHoFqUfj
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) May 14, 2026
This comes after the central government initiated steps to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols, including a proposed amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which makes obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence.
A official from the school Education department has indicated that the song is to be performed at the beginning of the Assembly session, PTI reported. The official added that school authorities have been instructed to document the proceedings, including video recordings, as proof of implementation.
Earlier, schools in West Bengal used to traditionally sing only the national anthem – composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
Over the past few years, the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government introduced ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol’, also penned by Tagore in 1905 during protests against the partition of Bengal, as the state song.
Meanwhile, several political parties in the state have welcomed the state government’s decision to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory in state-run schools.
BJP leader Shatorupa said that singing Vande Mataram in schools would instil a sense of national pride and patriotism among students. “The entire country has been singing Vande Mataram. The previous Trinamool Congress government had stopped it in West Bengal. Now the Bharatiya Janata Party government has implemented it once more. We welcome the decision. This will help instil a sense of patriotism among students,” IANS quoted the BJP leader as saying.
On the other hand, the TMC stated that it had no issue with the song being sung in schools as it was penned by a Bengali.
“The song was written by a Bengali. It helps take Bengal’s traditions and cultural values forward. We have no objection to it. But it must be ensured that the message of secularism, brotherhood, and amity is not overshadowed by this,” TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said.
The Congress has welcomed the state government’s move, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also echoed the same sentiment.