MP seeks NCERT nod for Gita lessons in schools

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh cabinet chaired by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday decided to write to NCERT, seeking permission to include chapters from Bhagwad Gita in school curriculum, said minister of state for education, Deepak Joshi.

He said the main objective of including lessons from Gita was to inculcate moral values among youth. "Not only Bhagwad Gita, moral lessons from other religious books too are welcome," he said. Lessons from Bhagwad Gita are for private and government schools in Madhya Pradesh.

A consultative committee has been constituted to design new NCERT syllabus which would take all stakeholders into confidence.


"The state cabinet has received a nod from NCERT to include environment and mathematics in the MP Board syllabus from Class 1-5. Similarly mathematics and science too have been included from class 5 to 10 from the academic session 2017-18," said Joshi. About including mathematics, science and commerce in the syllabus, the minister said class 10 and 12 have been exempted and the decision would be taken later. However, he said subjects and stream would be included for class 11 from the academic session 2017-18.

The new syllabus and books of NCERT pattern will be published after a tie-up with State Textbook Corporation. "Books will be provided free of cost to students till middle school. This would be an important change in the education sector and all we need to get it done successfully," said Joshi. The draft has already been given to Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).

He said the NCERT syllabus for class 10, 11 and 12 is in line with National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). It would also help students to prepare themselves for professional exams.