Patna: The Bihar Education Department has directed all private and government-aided schools in the state to strictly implement the NCERT School Bag Policy, 2020, ensuring that the weight of school bags does not exceed 10 per cent of a child’s body weight.
The department has also instructed schools to install weighing machines on campus for regular monitoring of students’ school bags. Officials said strict action would be taken against private schools found violating the guidelines.
Bihar Education Minister Mithlesh Tiwari said the move was aimed at reducing the physical burden on schoolchildren and promoting their overall well-being.
“All private and government-aided schools in the state will have to follow the NCERT School Bag Policy, 2020 and ensure that the weight of a school bag does not exceed 10 per cent of the child’s body weight,” the minister said.
He added that schools would be required to monitor bag weight regularly and design timetables in a manner that prevents students from carrying unnecessary books and materials.
The minister said the decision was taken on the instructions of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary as part of broader reforms to make Bihar’s education system more transparent, equitable and student-friendly.
“The NDA government is taking steps keeping the interests of parents and students in mind. Recently, the Chief Minister also warned private schools against arbitrary fee hikes and said strict action would be taken against those violating rules,” Tiwari said.
Emphasising the importance of student health, the minister said physical well-being and stress-free learning environments were essential for nation-building.
He said schools should provide adequate space in timetables for health education, physical activities and arts education to support the all-round development of children.
According to NCERT guidelines, weighing school bags should become a regular practice in educational institutions. For students of Classes 1 to 5, teachers have been asked to randomly check bag weights every three months.
If a bag is found to be excessively heavy, schools must inform parents and monitor the child’s bag for the following one or two weeks to ensure corrective measures are taken.
The new directive is expected to impact thousands of schools across Bihar and aims to address concerns over the health effects of heavy school bags on young students.
