Why the UP government has mandated newspaper reading in schools, explained

The Uttar Pradesh government has made newspaper reading compulsory in all government-run secondary and basic primary schools across the state. The new rule requires students to read newspapers every day as part of their regular school routine. The decision aims to improve reading habits, logical thinking, expression skills, and awareness about society among children.

The Department of Basic Education, Uttar Pradesh, shared the purpose of this move in a post on social media platform X. It said the initiative is meant to help students become informed and responsible citizens by staying connected with current events from an early age.

An official order was issued on December 23 by Additional Chief Secretary Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, who oversees Secondary and Basic Primary Education. The order clearly lays out how schools should implement the newspaper reading activity and what outcomes are expected from students.

What the new order says

As per the order, all government schools must make both Hindi and English newspapers available in their school libraries. Schools are required to ensure that students have easy access to newspapers on a daily basis.

The order also makes it mandatory to set aside at least 10 minutes every morning during the school assembly for newspaper reading. During this time, students will read out important news items, editorials, and major developments. These readings will cover national news, international events, and sports updates. Students will take turns reading so that everyone gets an opportunity to participate.

To improve vocabulary, schools must introduce a “word of the day” exercise. Under this activity, five difficult or new words from the newspaper will be selected daily. These words will be written on the notice board along with their meanings. This exercise is expected to help students slowly build a stronger vocabulary and understand complex language better.

Students from Classes 9 to 12 will be encouraged to take part in more advanced activities. They will be asked to write short editorials once a week based on news topics. Group discussions will also be held in classrooms, where students will talk about social issues, development-related news, and other important matters reported in newspapers.

The order also advises schools to motivate students to prepare scrapbooks using newspaper cuttings. These scrapbooks can include articles on science, environment, politics, sports, and culture. In addition, students will be encouraged to participate in crossword puzzles and Sudoku competitions. These activities are meant to make learning fun while also sharpening thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Bigger push for reading habits

This newspaper reading rule is not a standalone step. It is part of a broader reading campaign started by the Uttar Pradesh government earlier this year. On November 2, the state had issued a separate order to promote book-reading habits among students and reduce their dependence on mobile phones and social media.

Under the earlier order, students were allowed access to government district libraries. Schools were instructed to ensure that every student issues at least one non-syllabus book every week. This was done to encourage reading beyond textbooks and help students explore different subjects and ideas.

To motivate students further, the government also introduced incentives. Appreciation certificates were planned for students who show a strong interest in reading and regularly borrow books from libraries. Teachers were asked to identify such students and encourage others to follow their example.

Another unique initiative launched under the reading campaign was the “No Bouquet, Only Book” programme. Under this idea, books will be given as gifts instead of bouquets or trophies during school functions and official events. The government believes this will send a strong message about the importance of knowledge and reading.

Education department officials said that both the November 2 order and the December 23 newspaper reading order have been circulated to all divisional education officials, district inspectors of schools, and basic education officers. Strict instructions have been issued to ensure that these guidelines are fully implemented in schools across the state.

Senior officials have stressed that the aim is not to burden students but to make them curious, informed, and confident. By reading newspapers daily, students will learn how to understand real-world issues, express their opinions clearly, and develop a habit of lifelong learning.

The Uttar Pradesh government believes that these steps will help students grow into aware citizens who can think critically, communicate effectively, and stay informed about what is happening around them.