A government order in Chhattisgarh made the daily recitation of Hindu mantras and prayers mandatory in the state's public schools — Christian parents fear it violates their children's freedom of conscience.
According to International Christian Concern (ICC), an order from the Chhattisgarh state government made the daily recitation of Hindu mantras and prayers mandatory in public schools. The measure adds to other episodes of religious tension already recorded in the same state in recent weeks — Chhattisgarh is, whether by coincidence or not, the state that appears most often in this section's stories in 2026.
Christian parents interviewed for the report expressed concern that the practice violates their children's freedom of conscience, requiring them to take part in rituals of a faith that isn't their own, in a space that is supposed to be neutral: the public school. ICC does not specify, in the report, whether the rule provides any kind of exemption for students of other religions.
Measures like this one fit into a broader debate in India about the role of Hinduism in public life — including in formally secular institutions, such as the state school system. For religious minority families, the line between "national culture" and "religious imposition" in this kind of policy is usually the heart of the controversy.
Pray for wisdom for Christian families as they navigate this situation with their children, for clarity and fairness in how this rule is applied, and for respect for the freedom of conscience of children of every religion in India's public schools.
Religious FreedomUttar Pradesh authorities instructed state universities to set up committees to monitor campus life for alleged attempts at conversion to Christianity.
Religious PersecutionCommunity groups organized protests in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, alleging forced conversions in villages and demanding an investigation — Christian families were intimidated and pressured to leave.
