UP to make ‘Vande Mataram’ singing mandatory in all educational institutions

The singing of “Vande Mataram” is set to be made compulsory in all schools and educational institutions across Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Monday. The decision, he said, has been aimed at instilling a sense of reverence and national pride among citizens towards Bharat Mata and the motherland.

The announcement was made during an Ekta Yatra (Unity March) held in Gorakhpur, where the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of the national song in promoting unity and patriotism. “There should be a sense of respect for the national song Vande Mataram. Its singing will be made mandatory in every school and educational institution of Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Officials in the state’s Education Department are expected to issue detailed implementation guidelines soon. The directive will cover both government and private educational institutions. It has been indicated that the initiative will form part of daily morning assemblies and cultural programs in schools.

Practice in Other States

The move by Uttar Pradesh is not the first of its kind in India. Several other states have, at different times, introduced similar mandates or practices relating to the national song.

In Madhya Pradesh, the singing of Vande Mataram has been a long-standing tradition in government offices. The practice, which began in 2006 during the tenure of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requires the song to be sung on the first working day of every month at the state secretariat in Bhopal. After a brief interruption, it was revived again in 2023.

In Maharashtra, the State Assembly passed a resolution in August 2017 making Vande Mataram compulsory in all schools, colleges, and government offices. The resolution was intended to encourage respect for the national song and to promote patriotic feeling among students and employees.

Similarly, Haryana made the singing of Vande Mataram a part of daily school prayers in 2017, following an announcement by the then Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma. The directive required all government and private schools in the state to include the song in morning assemblies.

In Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court issued a directive in July 2018 ordering that Vande Mataram be sung once a week in schools and once a month in government offices and industries. However, the state government later clarified that participation in the practice was voluntary and not compulsory.

The Assam government, in 2022, made the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory at all official Independence Day and Republic Day functions, though not in daily school assemblies.

No Mandate in Most States

In most other Indian states—including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Delhi—there are no official government orders mandating the singing of Vande Mataram. However, the song continues to be sung voluntarily in several schools, especially those affiliated with national boards such as CBSE, as part of cultural and national celebrations.

Constitutional and Legal Context

While Vande Mataram holds the status of India’s national song, it does not enjoy the same legal standing as the national anthem. There is no central law requiring its compulsory singing. The Supreme Court, in the landmark Bijoe Emmanuel vs. State of Kerala judgment (1986), held that citizens cannot be compelled to sing national songs or the national anthem if doing so violates their personal beliefs, but they must show due respect.

Constitutional experts have noted that while state governments may encourage or promote the singing of Vande Mataram to foster unity, any attempt to enforce it as a mandatory requirement may invite legal scrutiny if it is seen as infringing upon individual rights guaranteed under Articles 19 and 25 of the Constitution.

A Growing Trend of Patriotic Emphasis

The Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal reflects a broader pattern observed in recent years, where several states have sought to reinforce patriotic values through symbolic expressions such as flag-hoisting ceremonies, anthem recitations, and national song performances. The move has been welcomed by sections of society who view it as a measure to strengthen national unity, while some legal experts have called for clarity to ensure that such directives remain within constitutional bounds.

As the Uttar Pradesh administration proceeds to implement the new directive, the state joins a select group of others—including Maharashtra, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh—that have formally incorporated Vande Mataram into institutional or official routines.