Kerala schools not asked to sing Vande Mataram on I-Day, circular shows
The Kerala Director of General Education (DGE) has issued a circular to all school head teachers for the 79th Independence Day celebrations, directing them to hoist the national flag and recite the national anthem, but making no mention of the rendition of Vande Mataram.
The circular, dated August 11, also addresses deputy directors of education and district education officers. It instructs schools to celebrate the occasion in an appropriate and dignified manner, with everyone standing during the national anthem and strict adherence to the Flag Code of India, 2002. It further says patriotic songs and other programmes should be organised.
The DGE circular comes amid a controversy over a directive from the Chief Secretary asking government departments to ensure the recital of Vande Mataram in its entirety during Independence Day celebrations. However, neither the DGE circular nor an earlier circular from the General Administration (Protocol) department on August 4 contains any such instruction regarding the national song.
The circular also reiterates that the manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of national flags made of plastic is banned, and that green protocol should be observed for all programmes.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister said the Chief Secretary’s directions were related to the Union government’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. He noted that the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has become law, but the Congress-led United Democratic Front government in the state has a clear stand on the matter. He added that the government’s position would be clear to everyone on Independence Day.
