Uttarakhand government proposes Gita, Ramayana lessons in school syllabus

The Uttarakhand government has formally requested the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to incorporate the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana into the curriculum for its government schools.

The announcement was made by State Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat on July 16 following a meeting with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

"In a meeting of the Education Department with the Chief Minister, we have tasked NCERT to include Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana in the syllabus to be taught in 17,000 government schools of Uttarakhand," Rawat said.

Until the revised syllabus is implemented, students in these schools will recite verses from both texts during morning assemblies, the minister added.

The move comes a day after NCERT unveiled its new textbook titled “Veena,” designed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework.

The book is intended to strengthen students' understanding of India's scientific progress while fostering a connection with the country's cultural and civilizational heritage.

One of the featured chapters, "Ganga ki Kahani," traces the journey of the river Ganga from its source at Gomukh to its endpoint at Gangasagar.

The narrative passes through cities like Haridwar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Kanpur, and Kolkata, offering both historical and geographical insights.

Another chapter introduces readers to artificial intelligence, explaining how machines mimic human learning and problem-solving. The lesson aims to promote scientific thinking among middle school students.

NCERT has begun distributing the updated textbooks for select classes, with more scheduled for release by the end of the year.

These materials reflect the policy’s focus on blending traditional knowledge with modern education.