Rajasthan has made the daily singing of Vande Mataram mandatory across all government-run offices, schools, colleges and madrasas, with the state marking November 7 as the 150th anniversary of the national song.

The government has also announced that the coming year will be observed as the ‘Year of Patriotism’, featuring statewide programmes celebrating national identity.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the mandate applies uniformly to every institution under the state government, including madrasas. Calling Vande Mataram the “soul of India,” he said the song instils a sense of unity and patriotic commitment among citizens.

Parallel to the new directive, the state is preparing for another significant overhaul in its education system. After merging 449 schools this year due to persistently low enrolment, the department plans to consolidate 312 more institutions in the next academic cycle.

The closures include 155 higher secondary schools with fewer than 25 students and 157 primary schools where enrolment has dropped to five or below.

Dilawar said that despite two years of targeted efforts, the student count in several schools has not improved. The merger, he added, is aimed at ensuring students have access to adequately staffed and better-resourced campuses without being forced to travel unreasonable distances.

A statewide survey to identify remaining low-enrolment schools is still underway and is expected to be completed early next year.