The West Bengal government has made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory in all madrassas across the state with immediate effect. The decision was announced through an official order issued by the Directorate of Madrasah Education. The move comes just days after the newly formed BJP government in the state directed all schools to make the national song compulsory during morning assemblies.

According to the latest notification, the directive will apply to all institutions functioning under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department. This includes government model madrassas, government-aided madrassas, approved Shishu Shiksha Kendras, Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras, and recognised unaided madrassas.

The order clearly stated, “Singing of Vande Mataram during assembly prayers, prior to the commencement of classes, is hereby made mandatory.” The instruction has come into force immediately and institutions have been asked to follow it without delay.

Officials from the department said the move was taken to ensure that assembly practices remain the same across all institutions under the department’s control. A senior official said the decision was aimed at bringing “uniformity in assembly practices” across institutions under the department.

“The order has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and is to be implemented with immediate effect,” the official added.

The notification has already been circulated to district magistrates, district inspectors of schools, the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education, and several other senior officials so that the order can be implemented smoothly across districts.

The latest directive follows another order issued by the state government last week for all state-run and state-aided schools. That order made it compulsory for students to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ during morning assembly before classes begin every day.

Under that directive, every student studying in state-run and aided schools has been asked to participate in singing the national song at the start of the school day. School authorities and heads of institutions have also been instructed to ensure that the order is followed strictly.

“The singing of Vande Mataram during morning assembly prayers prior to the start of classes should be made mandatory so that Vande Mataram is sung by all students in all schools in the state with immediate effect,” the Director of Education said in a communication to heads of state-run and state-aided schools on May 13.

The decision regarding schools and madrassas has gained attention because it comes at a time when the Union government is also working on strengthening laws related to national symbols and national honour. Recently, the Centre initiated steps to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

As part of the proposed amendment, obstruction during the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ could become a punishable offence. The move is aimed at ensuring greater respect for national symbols and patriotic practices in public spaces and institutions.

The back-to-back directives by the West Bengal government indicate a broader push to make the singing of the national song a regular part of daily assembly activities in educational institutions across the state. With the madrassa order now in place, all institutions under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department will also follow the same assembly practice as schools run or supported by the government.

The government has not announced any separate guidelines regarding implementation, but officials confirmed that institutions are expected to begin following the order immediately. Authorities at the district and institutional level have been informed so that there is no delay in carrying out the directive.

The development is likely to remain a major political and administrative talking point in the state, especially as discussions around national symbols, patriotism, and educational policies continue at both the state and national levels.