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Chhattisgarh Mandates Hindu Prayers in Schools, Sparks Opposition from Congress

Topic: politicsRegion: North AmericaUpdated: i3 outletsSources: 6Spectrum: Center OnlyFiltered: Asia (3/6)· Clear⏱ 4 min read
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Story Summary
SITUATION
The Chhattisgarh Government has made Hindu prayers mandatory in state schools starting with the 2026-27 academic session. The opposition Congress party claims this move imposes the RSS agenda in educational institutions.
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Spectrum: Center Only🌍Asia: 3 · Other: 3
Political Spectrum
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i3 outlets · Center
Left
Center
Right
Left: 0
Center: 6
Right: 0
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i3 unique outlets · Dominant: Asia
KEY FACTS
  • Hindu prayers made mandatory in Chhattisgarh’s State schools; govt imposing RSS agenda, says Congress
  • The Opposition Congress ha Reciting the Gayatri Mantra and other Hindu prayers has been made mandatory by the Chhattisgarh Government in all schools under its education department from the current academic session.
  • The Opposition Congress has described it as an attempt to impose the RSS agenda in educational institutions.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The recent mandate by the Chhattisgarh Government to make Hindu prayers, including the Gayatri Mantra, compulsory in state schools is set against a backdrop of increasing tensions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party.

This decision, communicated to District Education Officers on June 12, 2026, comes amid a broader national discourse on the role of religion in public education, particularly in the context of the BJP's alignment with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization.

Brief

The Chhattisgarh Government has officially mandated the recitation of Hindu prayers in state schools, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party. Starting with the 2026-27 academic session, students will be required to recite the Gayatri Mantra and other Hindu prayers during school activities, including the morning assembly and mid-day meals.

The School Education Department communicated this directive to District Education Officers on June 12, with implementation beginning today, June 16, 2026. The Congress party has condemned this decision, arguing that it reflects an effort to impose the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within educational institutions.

They assert that such mandates undermine the secular fabric of education and promote a singular religious ideology. The government, however, has framed the initiative as a way to instill cultural values and national pride among students.

This development comes amid ongoing debates about the role of religion in public education in India, highlighting the tensions between secularism and religious nationalism. As the policy takes effect,

Sources
3 of 6 linked articles · Filter: Asia