Uttarakhand to introduce Bhagavad Gita teachings in schools under NEP 2020 vision

In a significant shift toward integrating cultural and moral values into the education system, the Uttarakhand government has decided to include teachings from the Bhagavad Gita in school curricula, aligning with its broader focus on Sanatan and Sanskrit education.

This move reflects Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s vision of promoting India’s cultural roots and implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 through a well-rounded and value-based academic framework.

The decision was taken during an education review meeting held on May 6, where the chief minister instructed officials to embed Gita teachings into classroom content and to formulate a 10-year strategic roadmap for educational transformation.

The strategy will also highlight environmental studies, local folklore, traditional art, and notable historical personalities from Uttarakhand to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of their heritage.

Over the past few months, the state has made multiple efforts to elevate Sanskrit, officially designated as the second language of Uttarakhand.

One such initiative, the Adarsh Sanskrit Gram Yojana, recently approved, proposes the selection of a model village in each district for structured Sanskrit education.

The state aims to gradually extend Sanskrit learning down to block levels, ensuring that future students become adept in the classical language.

Furthermore, students from SC/ST communities who choose Sanskrit as a subject are receiving financial aid to encourage wider participation.

Alongside these reforms, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board is progressing with plans to modernize madrasas by integrating traditional religious education with mainstream academics.

As part of this effort, registered madrasas are incorporating the NCERT curriculum, introducing Sanskrit along with Arabic and English, and implementing uniform dress codes.

Waqf Board Chairman and BJP leader Shadab Shams commented that madrasa students will also be taught the values of Lord Ram, referencing historical texts that describe Ram as an “Imam-e-Hind (Leader of India).”

This interfaith educational model is intended to promote unity, broaden access, and reduce communal divisions within the student population.

In addition to curriculum changes, Chief Minister Dhami has emphasized the need for immediate infrastructure reviews across all schools in preparation for the monsoon season.

The government is planning to set up residential hostels in each district’s cluster schools and improve transport networks serving 559 such schools.

Efforts are also underway to distribute textbooks promptly, expand the NCC program, ensure transparency in teacher transfers, and draw insights from education models in other states.

Public-private partnerships are being encouraged to strengthen infrastructure and enhance the overall learning environment.

Through the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita teachings, expansion of Sanskrit instruction, and modernization of madrasas, the Uttarakhand government is working to foster a holistic and inclusive education system that bridges tradition and modernity for upcoming generations.