Schools to Observe 'Bag-Free' Day Monthly in Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government has opted to implement ten 'bag-free' days per academic session across all schools in the state, aiming to alleviate the burden of books on students. According to an official statement, each upper primary and secondary school, from class 6 to class 12, will observe one bag-free day on the last Saturday of every month throughout the academic year.

This initiative aligns with the guidelines of the new National Education Policy of 2020. On these designated days, students are expected to attend school without carrying books and participate in various activities based on their interests and aptitude. Several parent and teacher associations have praised the state government's decision as a significant stride toward the holistic development of students.

The state's education minister has granted approval to a departmental proposal on Tuesday to introduce bag-free days in schools statewide. Once an official government order is issued, the implementation process will commence, as per officials. These bag-free days are scheduled to be initiated from the upcoming academic session starting in April.