PATNA, April 27 -- The state government has mandated singing the national song and national anthem at the beginning of all official programmes and at schools before regular academic activities.

The protocol involves commencing government events with "Vande Mataram", composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, followed by "Jana Gana Mana" by Rabindranath Tagore.

The state events will conclude with the state song "Mere Bharat Ke Kanthhaar, Tujhko Shat-Shat Vandan, Bihar". Composed by Satya Narayan, the song was adopted in March 2012 as Bihar's state song.

General administration department secretary Md Sohail issued the directives to all departmental heads, the director general of police, divisional commissioners and district magistrates on...