No School Holiday on Republic Day: Maharashtra Mandates ‘Nation First’ Patriotic Drill for All Schools
MUMBAI/PUNE – In a move to ignite a massive wave of patriotism across the state, the Maharashtra School Education Department has issued a final directive making the ‘Nation First’ (Rashtra Pratham) mass drill mandatory for every school on January 26, 2026.
Following the official Republic Day flag-hoisting ceremony, more than 2 crore students and 7 lakh teachers across 1 lakh schools will participate in a synchronized 15-to-20-minute patriotic drill. This initiative, spearheaded by Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, aims to set a global benchmark for disciplined youth participation while fostering national pride from the foundational level of schooling.
A State-Wide Mandate: No School Exempted
The directive applies to all educational institutions across Maharashtra, regardless of their management, medium of instruction, or board affiliation (SSC, CBSE, ICSE, or IB). State Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh has emphasized that the program is designed to be inclusive, reaching every corner of the state from urban hubs like Pune and Mumbai to the most remote villages.
To ensure 100% participation, the government has explicitly stated that no school should declare a holiday to bypass the event. Attendance for both students and staff is compulsory, barring those with documented medical conditions or physical disabilities.
The ‘Nation First’ Drill: Structure and Schedule
The “Rashtra Pratham” initiative is more than just a physical exercise; it is a choreographed display of unity.
- Duration: The drill will last approximately 15–20 minutes.
- The Music: Schools must use the official model video and patriotic soundtrack (14 minutes, 40 seconds) provided by the department.
- The Preparation: Schools have been conducting practice sessions every Friday and Saturday throughout January to ensure synchronization.
- The Goal: The state intends to showcase this event as a “world record-scale” patriotic campaign.
Logistics and Safety Guidelines for Schools
Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, in a recent video conference with senior officials, stressed that student safety must remain the top priority. Schools are required to:
- Utilize Common Grounds: Where school premises are small, students are encouraged to gather at local village or city grounds.
- Weather Contingencies: In light of unpredictable weather patterns, schools must have indoor halls or waterproof arrangements (mandaps) and power backups (generators) ready.
- Community Engagement: Local representatives, parents, and farmers are invited to witness the drill to create a community-wide celebration of the 77th Republic Day.
📍 मंत्रालय, मुंबई
— MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) January 22, 2026
शालेय शिक्षण मंत्री दादाजी भुसे यांनी ‘देशभक्तीपर गीतांवर सामूहिक कवायत’ आयोजनासंदर्भात माध्यम प्रतिनिधींशी संवाद साधला.
भारताच्या ७७ व्या प्रजासत्ताक दिनी राज्यातील सर्व माध्यमांच्या, व्यवस्थापनाच्या व सर्व शिक्षण मंडळाच्या शाळांमध्ये एकाचवेळी ‘देशभक्तीपर… pic.twitter.com/DpuNyhhoGY
Digital Reporting and Monitoring
To verify compliance and document the historic scale of the event, every school is mandated to upload high-quality videos and photographs of their drill to the official state education portal immediately following the event. District and block-level education officers have been tasked with monitoring the execution and submitting detailed action reports to the Directorate of Education.
This mandate follows a broader shift in the state’s educational policy, which recently introduced basic military-style training in schools to promote physical fitness and civic responsibility. As PuneNow continues to track the city’s preparations, local schools in Pune are already reporting high enthusiasm levels during their final rehearsals.
