Bihar makes national song and national anthem mandatory at official events and in schools

The Bihar government mandated singing the national song and national anthem at the beginning of all official programmes and at schools before regular academic activities, with the sequence: Vande Mataram, Jana Gana Mana, and then Bihar’s state song Mere Bharat Ke Kanthhaar, Tujhko Shat-Shat Vandan, Bihar. The state song was adopted in March 2012. The move drew reaction from politicians, including Nikhil Anand, national secretary of BJP OBC Morcha, who welcomed the decision and said it would help spread nationalism and unity.

General administration department secretary Md Sohail issued directives to all departmental heads, the director general of police, divisional commissioners and district magistrates to ensure compliance with the new singing protocol and to maintain the prescribed sequence at official functions and educational institutions (Vande Mataram, Jana Gana Mana, followed by Bihar’s state song).

Earlier on March 25, 2026, the Nitish Kumar government issued a directive making the national song a mandatory exercise in schools.

The Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition challenging the January 28 circular, noting that the circular was advisory in nature and imposed no legal obligation or penalties for non-compliance.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued guidelines mandating the singing of the national song and the national anthem at official events and in educational institutions, setting the national symbols as required at such occasions.