Chhattisgarh mandates government school students chant mantras 3 times daily
India
Chhattisgarh's government schools now require students to chant mantras three times a day: at assembly, before lunch, and at the end of school.
The state's chief minister says it's about building discipline and cultural values, but the move has stirred up some strong reactions.
Chhattisgarh opposition calls policy religious imposition
Opposition leaders have called out the policy for not including prayers from other religions, calling it religious imposition in a secular system.
Meanwhile, this controversy comes as Chhattisgarh faces criticism for slipping in national education rankings, putting even more attention on what's happening in its schools right now.