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Author :
Shilpa Nigam |
The government of Uttar Pradesh issued a directive on December 23, 2025, which made it compulsory for the pupils of all primary (basic) and secondary government-run schools to read daily newspapers. The project is intended to promote the reading habit among students as well as to improve their critical thinking and general awareness by cutting down on screen time.
10-Minute Daily Slot: Schools must dedicate at least 10 minutes during the morning assembly for newspaper reading.
Rotational Participation: Students will take turns reading aloud major national, international, and sports news, along with key editorial highlights.
Language & Format: Schools are required to provide both Hindi and English newspapers. The mandate emphasizes "physical" newspapers to improve focus in ways digital formats often do not.
Vocabulary Building: Schools must implement a "Word of the Day" activity, selecting and displaying five difficult words from the newspaper on notice boards to enhance vocabulary.
Overall, this initiative of regular newspaper reading will support students in their academic and cognitive growth by improving awareness, language skills, and critical thinking. It also helps students develop better focus and concentration, which is essential for exam preparation and lifelong learning.