Rajasthan Makes Daily Newspaper Reading Mandatory In State-Run Schools

The Rajasthan government has made daily newspaper reading compulsory in all state-run schools, aiming to build reading habits, improve vocabulary and boost general awareness among students. As per the new guidelines, students will spend at least 10 minutes every day reading newspapers during the morning assembly.

Officials said the exercise is meant to help students stay informed about national and global developments while encouraging them to understand and analyse news from an early age, as reported by PTI.

The move aligns with the learning goals and focus on holistic development outlined under the National Education Policy.

All government senior secondary and English-medium schools have been directed to subscribe to at least two newspapers —

one in Hindi and one in English.

Upper primary schools, meanwhile, must ensure the availability of two Hindi newspapers during the morning assembly.

The cost of newspaper subscriptions will be borne by the Rajasthan School Education Council, officials said.

Schools have also been instructed to select five new words every day from newspapers and explain their meanings to students to strengthen language skills. Each morning, one national-level English newspaper and one Hindi newspaper will be read aloud.

In addition, students will be grouped class-wise to read and discuss editorials, along with major national, international and sports news.

Officials believe the initiative will not only improve general knowledge but also raise social awareness and help students prepare better for competitive examinations.

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Similar Move In Uttar Pradesh

A similar step was recently taken by the Uttar Pradesh government, which made newspaper reading a compulsory daily activity in secondary and basic primary schools. The initiative aims to strengthen the reading culture among students and reduce excessive screen time.

An order issued on December 23 by Additional Chief Secretary (Secondary and Basic Primary Education) Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma said both Hindi and English newspapers should be made available in school libraries.

Schools were also encouraged to bring out their own newspapers or magazines, organise editorial-based writing and group discussions for Classes 9 to 12, and conduct activities such as crossword and Sudoku competitions.