SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed Chief Education Officers (CEOs) across the Union Territory to implement the 10 Bagless Days initiative in government schools for students of Classes 6 to 8, with a focus on practical learning, vocational skills and exposure to local occupations.
In a communication dated October 14, 2026, the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha J&K instructed all CEOs to circulate the prescribed guidelines among higher secondary, high and middle schools where Classes 6 to 8 are taught, and ensure their implementation in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The communication, issued by Ashwini Kumar, Administrative Officer, also directs the officers to submit consolidated monthly reports on the initiative by the fifth of every month through the designated email address, [email protected].
The guidelines, developed in November 2025 by the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education, a constituent unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) under the Union Ministry of Education, seek to take learning beyond conventional classrooms by introducing students to practical skills, community life and the world of work.
The initiative encourages students to interact with local artisans, craftspeople and other skilled professionals, and gain first-hand experience of occupations such as carpentry, electrical work, gardening and pottery. Visits to places of historical, cultural and tourist significance, as well as educational institutions within their village, tehsil, district or state, are also envisaged under the framework.
The programme aims to familiarise students with traditional knowledge, local livelihoods and potential career opportunities while promoting respect for different professions and the dignity of labour. It also seeks to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and the skills and activities that shape everyday community life.
The guidelines promote experiential learning through the three principles of ‘Head, Hand and Heart’, encouraging students to combine intellectual understanding with practical engagement and social awareness.
The framework is intended to help students apply academic knowledge to real-life situations, develop practical abilities and gain a better understanding of their local environment and heritage. It also aligns with the broader objectives of NEP 2020, which emphasises competency-based education, experiential learning and vocational exposure at the school level.
The document includes a message from former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who said the initiative was intended to make learning more engaging and less stressful by giving students opportunities to acquire practical experience outside traditional classrooms.
Pradhan highlighted engagement with local skills experts, interactions with artists and craftspeople, and visits to significant local sites and educational institutions as ways of helping students develop practical knowledge and appreciate their communities’ cultural and historical heritage.
The Directorate’s latest instructions require district-level education authorities to ensure that the guidelines reach all eligible schools and that the prescribed activities are carried out effectively. The monthly reporting requirement is intended to facilitate monitoring of implementation across Jammu and Kashmir.
