Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday, 7 July announced that all schools across the state will begin each academic day with the full rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram', immediately followed by the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'. The directive, issued by the Tripura Education (School) Department, applies to every government, government-aided, and privately managed school in the state, including recognised Madrassa schools.

What the Order Mandates

According to the department's official notification, the daily academic routine of all schools must formally commence with the community singing of the complete version of 'Vande Mataram', followed by 'Jana Gana Mana'. The notification further stipulates that whenever the national song is sung or played, all students, teachers, faculty members, and administrative staff are required to stand at attention as a mark of respect.

The order draws its authority from guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which prescribe proper protocol for the rendition of the national song across formal, semi-formal, and educational forums.

What the Government Said

Chief Minister Saha, who also holds the Elementary and Secondary Education portfolios, shared the department's notification through a social media post. He stated that the initiative is designed to foster patriotism, discipline, and a stronger sense of national identity among school students. Saha added that the measure aims to promote national unity, encourage respect for India's cultural heritage, and instil a deeper sense of civic responsibility among the younger generation.

The state government expressed confidence that the initiative would reinforce constitutional values and deepen students' regard for national symbols.

Scope and Coverage

The directive covers all schools functioning under the administrative jurisdiction of Tripura, cutting across management categories — government-run, government-aided, and unaided private institutions. Notably, government-aided and unaided recognised Madrassa schools are explicitly included within the order's ambit, signalling a uniform application regardless of the school's religious or administrative character.

This is consistent with the MHA guidelines' emphasis on maintaining decorum around national symbols across all educational forums, not merely mainstream institutions.

Broader Context

The move reflects a wider pattern seen across several BJP-governed states of embedding expressions of national identity into the daily school routine. Tripura, which has been governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2018, has periodically introduced school-level civic initiatives under Saha's administration. The simultaneous invocation of both the national song and the National Anthem — rather than either alone — marks a step beyond what most state-level orders have previously mandated.

Implementation details, including a timeline for full rollout across all school categories, are expected to follow through further departmental circulars.