State plans Gita sessions in schools PNN & AGENCIES Bhubaneswar, Sept 19: The state government is considering the inclusion of Bhagavad Gita sessions in schools to support the moral and intellectual growth of students, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond told the Assembly Friday. Replying to a question from BJP MLA Sitansu Sekhar Mohapatra of Bhadrak, Gond said the proposal forms part of the Odisha Curriculum Framework for School Education 2025, which is being aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. “As per the proposal, school assemblies may begin with the recitation of Om three times, followed by chanting of verses from the Bhagavad Gita, moral stories, prayers, and peace hymns to strengthen students’ values and thinking abilities,” Gond said. Mohapatra had sought to know whether the state government intended to introduce the Bhagavad Gita in elementary and high school education to promote children’s religious, moral, and intellectual development.

Bhubaneswar, Sept 20: The Odisha government is considering introducing sessions based on the Bhagavad Gita in school assemblies as part of a broader initiative to promote moral and intellectual development among students.

School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond informed the State Assembly on Friday that the proposal is under review as part of the Odisha Curriculum Framework for School Education 2025, which is being aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Responding to a query raised by BJP legislator Sitansu Sekhar Mohapatra from Bhadrak, Minister Gond said the proposed daily assembly routine would begin with the recitation of ‘Om’ three times, followed by verses from the Bhagavad Gita, along with moral stories, prayers, and peace hymns.

“The aim is to nurture ethical values and strengthen the thinking abilities of students through structured, value-based education,” the minister said. He added that the initiative is still at the proposal stage and forms part of a broader attempt to enhance holistic learning.

MLA Mohapatra had asked whether the government intended to introduce teachings from the Bhagavad Gita in elementary and high school curriculums to foster the religious, moral, and intellectual growth of students.

While the move has sparked interest and discussions, especially among proponents of cultural education, it is expected to go through further consultations and reviews before implementation.

If adopted, Odisha will join a growing list of states integrating Indian philosophical and moral texts into mainstream education, in line with NEP 2020’s emphasis on Indian knowledge systems.