Government Initiatives to Lighten School Bags, Aims to Reduce Burden on Students

The current generation of students faces a concerning issue with the weight of their school bags, noticeably straining their shoulders. In response, the Government of India is implementing a policy to establish the optimal weight for school bags in various classes. Anticipating a substantial reduction of at least 25 percent in the upcoming academic year, the Education Department aims to achieve this by reducing the paper size of books from 90 GSM to 70 GSM.

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The government is currently reviewing these proposals, and if approved, officials estimate a potential 30 percent decrease in the weight of students’ school bags. According to the proposed guidelines, primary school students in the 1st to 2nd class should carry bags weighing only 1.5 kg, while those in the 3rd to 5th class should have bags weighing 2 to 3 kg. The education department has recommended that the weight of bags for tenth-grade students should not exceed 5 kg.