'Vande Mataram' before 'Jana Gana Mana': Odisha govt issues new rules for singing the National song in schools

According to OTV, the government of Odisha has issued a directive to all schools across the state, mandating the implementation of new guidelines regarding the rendition of the national song, 'Vande Mataram,' and the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana.' The School and Mass Education Department has instructed District Education Officers, Block Education Officers, and school heads to ensure strict compliance with the new protocols.

The directive, communicated through a letter issued by Additional Secretary Nityananda Singh, specifies that the state will align its practices with the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 9. The order applies to both government-run and government-aided educational institutions throughout the state.

While the specific procedural details of the rendition were not fully elaborated in the initial report, the move signifies a push for standardized nationalistic observances in the state's school system. The administration has emphasized that these instructions are to be followed in both letter and spirit, marking a formal update to the daily assembly procedures for students and staff in Odisha.