Rajasthan Introduces Term-Wise Merged Books to Lighten School Bags
In a significant move to address the burden of heavy school bags, the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) has unveiled a new initiative for primary schools. Starting from the upcoming academic year on April 1, students will benefit from term-wise divided books that merge multiple subjects into single volumes, ensuring they need to carry only one book at a time.
Implementation Details and Book Structure
Officials have confirmed that this decision aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, with new textbooks published for the 2026-27 session accordingly. After splitting the syllabus by term, subjects including Hindi, English, mathematics, and Environmental Studies (EVS) have been integrated. For instance, in Class 3, the book Gyan Sangam Part-3 is divided into three parts, each covering all four subjects. Every part contains three chapters per subject along with a worksheet to assess student learning.
Additionally, another book titled Sankhya Sansar Part 1 combines mathematics and EVS, featuring seven chapters with an activity-based worksheet interspersed between topics. The second part of this book includes six chapters for each subject, accompanied by two activity-based worksheets.
Official Statements and Policy Background
A senior official from RSCERT explained, "Students will only have to carry one book which will be taught in any particular term. With three terms, books have been divided and merged in such a way that all subjects get divided equally. Once the test for that term is over, students will be asked to bring the next book, or it will be kept in schools for them." This approach aims to streamline the academic process while reducing physical strain on young learners.
This initiative builds upon previous efforts by the Congress government in Rajasthan, which had set limits on school bag weights. For example, books for Class 1 were capped at 400 grams, 300 grams for Class 2, and 500 grams for Classes 3 to 5. These measures are in line with the School Bag Policy 2020 issued by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which recommends that a student's school bag should not exceed 10% of the child's body weight.
The new term-wise merged books represent a proactive step towards enhancing student well-being and academic efficiency, reflecting a broader commitment to educational reform in the state.



