The minister added that until the new syllabus is introduced, students will recite verses from these texts during daily prayer sessions.
The Uttarakhand government has formally requested the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to incorporate the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana into the syllabus of its 17,000 government schools.
Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat stated that this decision was made in a meeting with the Chief Minister and the Education department.
Interim measure
While the new syllabus is being developed and implemented, students in these schools will recite verses from the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana during their daily prayer sessions. Teachers will also be instructed to explain the meaning of these verses to the students, with the goal of promoting values, ethical conduct, leadership, and scientific thinking. This initiative, according to Rawat, is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s aim to integrate traditional Indian knowledge into modern education.
Context and potential impact
This move follows NCERT’s recent release of a new textbook, “Veena,” developed in accordance with the NEP 2020, which focuses on connecting students with India’s scientific and civilizational heritage. The inclusion of these religious texts in the curriculum has sparked debate regarding the role of religious texts in a secular education system. Some believe this could contribute to cultural understanding and moral development, while others express concerns about potential partiality and alienation of students from other backgrounds.
Textbooks incorporating this new content are expected to be introduced in Uttarakhand schools starting from the next academic session.
