Bengal Makes ‘Vande Mataram’ Mandatory in Madrasas Amid Policy Push

The West Bengal government has directed all state-run and aided madrasas to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ during morning assembly. The move comes as the newly sworn-in government rolls out a series of administrative and policy decisions, including CAA implementation and border fencing measures.

Order Issued To Madrasas

The West Bengal government has made the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ compulsory in all madrasas functioning under the Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department. The directive, issued on May 19, came into public view on Wednesday after details were circulated among educational institutions and administrative offices in Kolkata.

According to the order, the rule will apply immediately to government model madrasas, government-aided madrasas and recognised unaided madrasas across the state.

Officials said the song must be performed during morning assembly before academic sessions begin. Until now, most madrasas in Bengal followed a routine that included the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ along with Bengali devotional and cultural songs such as ‘Anant Asim Premmay Tumi’ written by poet Ghulam Mustafa.

Institutions have also been instructed to submit compliance reports after implementing the directive.

New Government’s Early Decisions

The move is among a string of major decisions announced within days of the new government taking office in West Bengal. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took oath on May 19 along with a small council of ministers, following which the administration began issuing orders across several departments.

Political observers in Kolkata said the speed of announcements signals an attempt to quickly establish the government’s administrative priorities.

Border Security Measures

One of the biggest announcements relates to the Indo-Bangladesh border. The state government has said it will hand over nearly 600 acres of land to the Border Security Force within 45 days to facilitate pending fencing work.

Officials familiar with the matter said several stretches along the border had remained unresolved because of land disputes and administrative delays. The latest decision is expected to speed up infrastructure work in sensitive border districts.

The government has also moved ahead with implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state. Under the framework announced by officials, members of seven notified communities who entered India before December 31, 2024, would be eligible for citizenship-related benefits under the law.

Ayushman Bharat Rollout

West Bengal has additionally agreed to implement the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. The programme offers eligible families cashless medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually.

Administrative instructions have also been issued to restart the census process in the state, which had remained pending for an extended period despite earlier communication from the Union government.

Officials indicated that district-level coordination work could begin soon.

Relaxation In Recruitment

In another decision likely to affect a large section of job aspirants, the state government announced a five-year upper age limit relaxation for candidates appearing in government recruitment and teacher eligibility examinations.

The administration has also allowed IAS, IPS and WBPS officers posted in the state to participate in central government training programmes, reversing earlier restrictions.

Criminal Law Changes

The government said it would adopt the Centre’s newly introduced criminal law framework, replacing provisions linked to the IPC and CrPC system.

At the same time, the administration announced financial assistance and possible government employment support for families of BJP workers allegedly killed during the 2021 post-election violence in the state.

Sources in the administration said some cases linked to the violence could be reopened for fresh investigation.

Welfare Schemes Restructured

The state has decided to phase out religion-specific financial aid schemes connected to the madrasa department and certain community-based programmes from June onward.

Officials said future welfare initiatives would be implemented through a uniform policy structure instead of religion-linked assistance models.

Under the proposed Annapurna Yojana, women beneficiaries are expected to receive Rs 3,000 per month starting June 1. Free travel for women in state-run buses has also been announced from the same date.

Cow Slaughter Notice Issued

The administration has further issued a fresh advisory referring to the 1950 cow slaughter law and a 2018 Calcutta High Court order.

The notice states that slaughter of cattle or buffaloes without a valid fitness certificate would not be permitted. The directive has been circulated to district authorities and enforcement agencies for compliance monitoring.

With multiple policy decisions announced within less than two weeks, the ‘Vande Mataram’ madrasa order has now become part of a broader political and administrative shift unfolding in West Bengal.