The governments of Punjab and Haryana and have decided in favour of singing Vande Mataram in schools on Thursday, but will not take disciplinary action against those not implementing it.

The centenary of the Vande Mataram composition would be celebrated in Haryana with students rendering the national song during morning prayer meetings before the start of school, state Education Minister Phool Chand Mullan said.

He said the heads of institutions and teachers would deliver lectures on the song's history, but "no disciplinary action will be taken in case of non-recital".

Students and staff of all government-recognised and aided schools of Punjab School Education Board will sing at least the first two stanzas of the song and the Department of School Education has issued directions to this effect.

Vande Mataram will also be sung across Himachal Pradesh to mark the centenary of the national song, officials said.

A function will be held at the State Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister V B Singh to mark the event.

Similar functions will be held in the headquarters of districts, sub-divisions and tehsils, they said.