# No Vande Mataram directive for Kerala schools on Independence Day 2026-08-14T16:12:44+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Kerala's Director of General Education, Snehil Kumar Singh, issued a circular for Independence Day celebrations that mandates hoisting the national flag and singing the national anthem, but makes no mention of Vande Mataram. The circular, sent to all school heads and education officials, follows a General Administration (Protocol) department circular from August 4, which also does not include the national song. The instruction comes amid a row over Chief Secretary's directive to government departments to recite Vande Mataram in full. Chief Minister has said that directive related to the Union government's Har Ghar Tiranga campaign and that the state's stand would be clear on Independence Day. The circular also bans plastic flags and mandates green protocol. ## Coverage - english.mathrubhumi.com - thehindu.com Tags: Flag Code of India, General Education Department, Kerala, Vande Mataram Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-schools-told-to-sing-national-anthem-not-vande-mataram/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/kerala-schools-told-to-sing-national-anthem-not-vande-mataram/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.