Parliament Question: Mental Pressure of Examination on Primary School Students

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 23 ANSWERED ON 20.07.2026 Mental Pressure of Examination on Primary School Students †23. Shri Murari Lal Meena: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether educational experts and parents are expressing the need to reduce the increasing mental pressure of examinations on primary school students and to encourage their holistic development, if so, the view of the Government in this regard; (b) whether the Government is considering making Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) or any other child-friendly evaluation system more effective instead of traditional annual examinations for students of Classes 1 to 5, if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether the Government proposes to deliberate with the States regarding the implementation of a two-day weekly holiday on Saturdays and Sundays, keeping in view the physical and mental health, family engagement, and holistic development of primary school students (Classes 1 to 5) and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (b): Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and majority of schools fall under the administrative control of the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) administration. On its part, the Ministry of Education is guided by, the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 in all its efforts and initiatives. The NEP 2020 formulated through extensive and participatory consultation with various stakeholders, including educational experts and parents, emphasises joyful learning, play, discovery and activity- based pedagogy at foundational and preparatory stages (i.e. upto Class 5) and transforming assessments for holistic development of learners. To this end, several initiatives such as the Jaadui Pitara and e-Jaadui Pitara (https://ejaaduipitara.ncert.gov.in), a collection of interactive learning teaching materials including toys, games, puzzles and story cards; a three months play based ‘School Preparation Module and Guidelines’ for Grade I named ‘Vidya Pravesh’; and play and activity based text book for classes – 1 and 2 have been launched by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education under the NIPUN Bharat Mission. Further, the NEP 2020 stresses upon a shift in assessment system from one that is summative and primarily tests rote memorization skills to one that is more regular andformative, competency-based, and promotes learning and development of the students, and tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity. It envisages assessment as a tool for continuously revising teaching-learning processes to optimize learning and development for all students. In pursuance of the NEP, 2020, the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH, NCERT under the aegis of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education has developed the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) for all stages of school education. The same are available in the public domain at the link https://parakh.ncert.gov.in/hpc. The HPC designed for the foundational and preparatory stages, covering upto Class 5, is a holistic 360-degree, multi-dimensional report that integrates teacher, peer and self-assessment to reflect the uniqueness of each learner in the cognitive, affective and psycho-motor domains. (c): With Education being in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, operational and administrative matters such as school holidays in majority of schools fall within the purview of the respective State Governments and UT Administrations. ********