Bengal plans 1,000 RSS schools in one year

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on September 3, 2026, that his government aims to establish at least 1,000 schools run by Vidya Bharati, the education wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, across the state within one year. The announcement, made during an event in Kolkata marking Vidya Bharati's 74th anniversary, signals a significant expansion of the organization's footprint in a state where it has historically had a limited presence. Adhikari stated the new schools would be set up in every district, municipality, and panchayat, with Corporate Social Responsibility funds proposed as a financing source. Vidya Bharati currently operates 313 schools in West Bengal, meaning the network would need to more than triple to meet the target. The Chief Minister urged the organization to take responsibility for imparting what he termed "nationalistic learning," accusing the previous Trinamool Congress government of having "polluted" the state's educational institutions. The announcement was accompanied by a push for strict compliance with the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram.