Jaipur: The Vasundhara Raje-led Rajasthan government has issued a directive to all 789 hostels for OBC, SC and ST to ensure all residents sing the national anthem at 7 am, every day.

The statement was released by the state's Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE), in order to evoke 'nationalism' in students.

SJE principal secretary Samit Sharma told The Times of India that residential schools have already been reciting the national anthem, with it now being extended to government-run and government-aided hostels as well.

Students will have to recite the national anthem at 7 am, daily, during the morning prayers.

The diktat comes after the Jaipur Municipal Corporation had ordered that the national anthem and national song be played at the civic body’s head office daily at 9 am and 5 pm.