Jammu and Kashmir’s Department of School Education has issued a circular ordering schools across the union territory to ensure that the national anthem is sung at the beginning of the morning assembly. The circular directs all schools to organise a 20-minute assembly along with the compulsory recitation of the national anthem to maintain uniformity across all of Jammu and Kashmir’s schools. Schools have also been directed to include environmental awareness, mental health and other topics as part of the morning assemblies.