Uttar Pradesh government has launched an innovative ‘10 bagless days’ initiative for Classes 6 to 8 across all government and affiliated schools starting the 2025-26 academic year.
On designated Saturdays, students will not carry school bags or attend traditional textbook classes; instead, they will engage in activities like sports, clubs, creative workshops, and educational exposure visits.
This programme, developed as part of the State Council of Educational Research and Training’s (SCERT) ‘Anandam’ guidelines, aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s vision of reducing academic stress and promoting holistic, experiential learning.
Officials emphasise that the initiative will foster creativity, mental wellbeing, community awareness, and practical skill development while encouraging inclusivity for children with special needs.
A New Paradigm in Education: What Are Bagless Days?
The ‘bagless days’ are scheduled on the 3rd and 4th Saturdays of November and January, all Saturdays of December, and the first two Saturdays of February 2026. On these days, students attend school without carrying their academic bags and participate in non-traditional learning activities designed to make education more joyful and stress-free.
According to the Director General of School Education, Monika Rani, “These days will provide a joyful environment that fosters practical and experiential learning beyond the conventional curriculum.”
Activities include sports, creative art workshops, skill-building sessions, environmental and science projects, interactive group tasks, and community engagement experiences.
The schools will also organise excursions, enabling students to explore local industries, heritage sites, and cultural spots, thereby connecting classroom knowledge to real-world applications.
Teachers and parents have welcomed the move as a critical step towards making learning more child-centred and holistic, although some call for proper resource allocation and training to ensure successful implementation.
‘Anandam’ Guidelines: The Framework Behind the Initiative
This initiative is driven by SCERT’s specially crafted ‘Anandam’ (Joyful Learning) guidelines, which outline 34 distinct activities spread across three broad categories: science, environment and technology; public offices, local industries and businesses; art, culture, and history.
The guidelines encourage schools to collaborate with local artisans, craftsmen, community experts, and NGOs to deliver engaging, skill-based education aligned with contemporary national priorities like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, and One District One Product (ODOP).
This approach aims to reduce rote memorisation and promote a more inclusive education that nurtures critical thinking, observation skills, and the dignity of labour. Special educators will also provide support to ensure children with special needs are included seamlessly in these activities.
To prepare schools for the initiative, district and block education officers are tasked with conducting orientation sessions for headmasters and teachers, emphasising resource readiness such as laboratories, projectors, first aid kits, and connectivity with community stakeholders.
Background and National Context
Bagless days are part of the larger National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 vision, which advocates moving away from stress-inducing, textbook-focused education to a more balanced, experiential, and activity-based learning system. Similar initiatives have been piloted and implemented in states like Delhi and Karnataka with positive feedback on student engagement and wellbeing.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also issued nationwide guidelines for 10 bagless days to encourage practical learning like arts, music, sports, and field trips.
Uttar Pradesh’s adaptation of bagless days under the Anandam framework signals an important commitment to transform educational experiences for millions of children in one of India’s most populous states.
The initiative emphasises the development of physical fitness, mental health, social skills, and values essential for responsible citizenship and lifelong learning. The government has built a detailed calendar for the academic year prioritising these Saturdays, ensuring continuity and measurable impacts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The introduction of ‘bagless days’ in Uttar Pradesh’s schools is a laudable initiative reflecting a vital shift towards valuing creativity, wellbeing, and community connectedness in education.
For too long, the Indian schooling system has been dominated by rote learning and exam-focused pressure, often neglecting the holistic development of children.
By institutionalising activities that enhance mental health, practical skills, and social awareness, this policy aligns with The Logical Indian’s commitment to empathy, kindness, and constructive societal progress.
However, the true measure of success will depend on rigorous implementation, teacher training, parent engagement, and the involvement of community resource persons.
