Even as a row broke out over the Chief Secretary’s directive to government departments to ensure the recital of Vande Mataram in its entirety during the Independence Day celebrations, a circular from Director of General Education (DGE) Snehil Kumar Singh makes no mention of the rendition of the national song.

The circular dated August 11 to all school head teachers, besides General Education department officials such as deputy directors of education (DDEs) and district education officers (DEOs), directs all school head teachers to hoist the national flag and recite the national anthem as part of the 79th Independence Day celebrations.

It directs them to celebrate the occasion in an appropriate and dignified manner. Everyone should stand up as a mark of respect during the national anthem. They should ensure that the provisions of the Flag Code of India, 2002, are strictly followed during the flag hoisting. Rendition of patriotic songs and other programmes should be organised, according to the circular that was issued in the wake of another circular from the General Administration (Protocol) department on August 4. The GAD circular too does not make any mention of Vande Mataram recital as part of Independence Day celebrations. 

The DGE’s circular underscores that the manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of national flags manufactured using plastics is banned, and that green protocol should be observed for all programmes.

The Chief Minister had a day ago said the Chief Secretary’s directions were related to the Union government’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, had become a law, but the Congress-led UDF government in the State had a clear stand on this, he said.

He had added that the State government’s stand would be clear to everyone on Independence Day.

Published - August 14, 2026 09:40 pm IST