Uttar Pradesh Mandates Daily Newspaper Reading in Schools
- Jan 31, 2026
The UP government has guided all basic primary and secondary schools throughout the state to make newspaper reading a compulsory activity for students on a daily basis. The government looks to fortify a strong reading habit among students and restrict more screen time through this initiative.
An order published on 23.12.2025 by Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, additional chief secretary (Secondary and Basic Primary Education), explains the plan and instructs schools to make English and Hindi newspapers available in their libraries.
Schools should devote at least ten minutes every day during the assembly to newspaper reading as per the order. Students will take turns reading major national, international, sports news and key editorials during this time. The order brings in a “word of the day” activity, where teachers will choose 5 challenging words from newspapers and show them on the notice board to assist students’ build vocabulary.
Through this initiative, the government aims to develop students’ vocabulary, general knowledge, critical thinking, social awareness and concentration. It aims to prepare them well for competitive exams and raise awareness of fake news. Schools are recommended to include students in activities like publishing school magazines, group discussions for Grades 9 to 12, organising crossword and sudoku competitions and conducting writing habits outside newspaper reading. Schools are encouraged to push scrapbook-making with newspaper cuttings among children.
These guidelines follow a previous order published on 2.11.2025, under which the state established a broader reading campaign to build book-reading habits and limit excessive social media and mobile phone usage. Students who gained access to government district libraries should publish at least one non-syllabus book every week, and can get incentives like appreciation certificates for regular reading, under that order.
The government endorsed the “No Bouquet, Only Book” campaign as well, promoting schools to present books rather than trophies at school events. Government officials have circulated orders to all school district inspectors, basic education officers, and divisional education authorities to ensure strict execution across the state.