**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1174 regarding the measures taken by the Government of India to reduce the burden of school bags for children under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The response details the government's policy, including recommended bagless days and guidelines for school bag weight limits. The guidelines for the 10 bagless days were launched on July 29, 2024, marking the 4th Anniversary of NEP 2020.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:**
* Aims to reduce the weight of school bags and textbooks through changes in curriculum and pedagogy, with support from NCERT, SCERTs, schools, and educators.
* Recommends a 10-day bagless period for students in Grades 6-8, where they intern with local experts.
* **School Bag Policy:**
* Formulated by an Expert Committee comprising members from NCERT, KVS, NVS, and CBSE and released by NCERT in 2020.
* Circulated by the Ministry of Education to States and UTs.
* Suggests class-wise range for school bag weight as 10% of body weight.
* **Bagless Days Guidelines:**
* The government, in consultation with stakeholders, has developed guidelines for 10 bagless days.
* Guidelines aim to provide children of classes 6-8 exposure to skill education using experiential learning.
* Encourages activities involving arts, quizzes, sports, skills, visits to places of importance, meeting local artists and craftsmen, and visits to other institutions.
* **States and Union Territories (UTs):**
* Advised to adopt relevant suggestions of the School Bag Policy and NEP 2020.
* Advised to ensure the implementation of the same.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Students (Grades 6-8)**
* **Impact:** Experience reduced school bag weight and exposure to skill-based education and experiential learning.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the 10-day bagless period and engage in the activities outlined in the guidelines.
**Stakeholder: Schools (including Principals, Teachers, and Staff)**
* **Impact:** Need to implement changes in curriculum and pedagogy to reduce bag weight and facilitate bagless days.
* **Action Required:** Incorporate the recommendations of the NEP 2020 and the School Bag Policy into their practices.
**Stakeholder: NCERT, SCERTs, KVS, NVS, CBSE**
* **Impact:** Play a crucial role in supporting schools and educators in implementing the changes.
* **Action Required:** Provide resources and guidance to schools on how to effectively reduce bag weight and conduct bagless days.
**Stakeholder: State and UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for adopting and implementing the School Bag Policy and NEP 2020 in their respective jurisdictions.
* **Action Required:** Adapt the guidelines to local needs and ensure schools have the necessary resources to implement the changes.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A national policy on education that aims to reduce the burden of school bags, among other educational reforms.
Ministry of Education: The central government ministry responsible for education and literacy and for the overall implementation of the policy measures mentioned in the document.
Policy on School Bag: A policy formulated by an Expert Committee to address the weight of school bags and related issues.
NCERT: National Council of Educational Research and Training, a key organization involved in formulating and implementing the Policy on School Bag and other educational initiatives.
Bagless Days: A component of the NEP and School Bag Policy promoting days without bags, with a focus on skills development and experiential learning.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1174
ANSWERED ON 08/12/2025
Burden of School bag
†1174. Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of measures taken by the Government to reduce the burden of school bag
of children under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020;
(b) whether schools in the country have started implementing "bagless days' and whether
any study has been conducted in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any proposal to fix the maximum limit of school bag
weight and ensure the measurement of school bag weight from time to time; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in para 4.33 aims to make concerted
efforts, through suitable changes in curriculum and pedagogy, with the support of
NCERT, SCERTs, schools, and educators to significantly reduce the weight of school
bags and textbooks. National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also recommends that all
students will participate in a 10-day bagless period during Grades 6-8 where they intern
with local experts such as carpenters, gardeners, potters, artists etc.
Policy on School Bag was formulated by Expert Committee comprising of
members from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT),
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)and released by NCERT in 2020. The Ministry of
Education has circulated the Policy across the States and UTs vide its letter dated 24th
November 2020.Class-wise range for ratio for school bag as 10 per cent of the body weight as
suggested in School Bag Policy is given below :
Table : Class wise range of average body weight of children
S.No. Class Average Body Weight Bag Weight Range
Range (in Kg) (Recommended In Kg)
1 Pre-primary 10-16 No bag
2 Class I 16-22 1.6-2.2
3 Class II 16-22 1.6-2.2
4 Class III 17-25 1-7-2.5
5 Class IV 17-25 1-7-2.5
6 Class V 17-25 1-7-2.5
7 Class VI 20-30 2-3
8 Class VII 20-30 2-3
9 Class VIII 25-40 2.5-4
10 Class IX 25-45 2.5-4.5
11 Class X 25-45 2.5-4.5
12 Class XI 35-50 3.5-5
13 Class XII 35-50 3.5-5
Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India. States & UTs have
been advised to adopt relevant suggestions of the School Bag Policy and National
Education Policy (NEP), 2020 and ensure the implementation of the same.
In pursuance of the recommendation on bagless days, the Government in
consultation with concerned stakeholders has developed guidelines for 10 bagless days,
which have been launched on 29th July, 2024 on the occasion of 4th Anniversary of NEP
2020. These guidelines aim at providing children of classes 6-8 an exposure to skill
education using experiential learning pedagogy and to make learning at schools joyful
and stress free. Under these guidelines, ‘Bagless Days’ are encouraged throughout the
year for various types of activities involving arts, quizzes, sports, and skills; periodic
exposure to activities outside school through visits to places/monuments of historical,
cultural and tourist importance; Identification of Plants, Trees and Birds around school;
meeting local artists and craftsmen and visits to other institutions / educational institutions
in their village/Tehsil/District/State as decided by States and local communities and as
mapped by local skilling needs.
****