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Coming soon in Delhi schools: Lessons on RSS

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday confirmed that the curriculum, currently being finalised, will include lessons on the RSS

According to officials, the course will include chapters on the origin of the RSS in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, its ideology, and the role of its workers in social service and relief efforts

Students of Delhi government schools will soon study the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), along with freedom fighters and democratic values, as part of a new programme called ‘Rashtraneeti’.

Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Tuesday confirmed that the curriculum, currently being finalised, will include lessons on the RSS. “Important leaders and social activities of the RSS, as well as its history, will be part of the curriculum. It is important, and there is no reason why these should not be taught,” Sood told The Indian Express, adding that details will be released once the draft is ready.

According to officials, the course will include chapters on the origin of the RSS in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, its ideology, and the role of its workers in social service and relief efforts, including during the Kedarnath and Bihar floods and the Covid-19 pandemic. Contributions of leaders associated with the RSS, such as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will also be highlighted in the curriculum.

In addition, students will learn about freedom fighters and nationalist leaders including Veer Savarkar, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose, under a dedicated section on “unsung heroes”, officials added.

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The ‘Rashtraneeti’ programme, launched by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Sood on September 18 during the Namo Vidya Utsav, is being introduced from kindergarten to Class 12 across all Delhi government schools. The Directorate of Education has issued guidelines citing alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Fundamental Duties, and Sustainable Development Goals, according to documents accessed by The Indian Express.

The documents state that the programme aims to cultivate civic responsibility, ethical leadership, and constitutional values through student sub-committees and practical exercises such as youth parliaments, electoral literacy clubs, and field visits. ‘Rashtraneeti’ periods have been scheduled for the first and third Saturday of every month.

A government school teacher told The Indian Express that no handbooks on the new programme have been made available yet. “At present, elections are being held to form the committees in schools,” said a Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) assigned to oversee the programme.

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A source told PTI that teacher manuals have been prepared and training sessions are underway at State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), but the exact class groups that will study the new chapters are still under discussion.

Sophiya Mathew

Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Professional Background Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education. Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses: 1. The Air Pollution Crisis "A tale of two cities: Delhi govt schools choke in bad air, private classrooms set up air filters" (Dec 20, 2025): A high-impact feature contrasting the "Clean Air Bubbles" in elite schools with the reality of government school students who are exposed to an equivalent of 17 cigarettes a day due to outdoor exposure. "Delhi sees season's worst air day, second worst December AQI in nearly a decade" (Dec 15, 2025): An analytical report on the meteorological patterns trapping pollutants in the NCR. "Delhi bans non-BS VI vehicles from outside: Why curbing vehicular pollution is key" (Dec 17, 2025): Explaining the science behind targeting specific vehicle vintages to lower particulate matter. 2. Enforcement & Regulations "No fuel at pumps in Delhi without valid PUC certificate from December 18" (Dec 17, 2025): Breaking the news on the environment ministry's strict "No PUC, No Fuel" policy. 3. Education Policy "Law to regulate school fee in Delhi risks becoming procedural, say parents" (Dec 13, 2025): Investigating the loopholes in the new Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. "Monsoon Session: Private school fee regulation Bill cleared after four-hour debate" (Aug 9, 2025): Covering the legislative passage of the controversial fee hike regulation. Signature Style Sophiya is known for her observational depth. Her reporting often includes vivid details from school corridors, hospital waitlists, or the banks of the Yamuna to illustrate how policy failures affect the city's most vulnerable residents. She is a frequent expert guest on the 3 Things podcast, where she explains the complexities of Delhi’s environmental laws. X (Twitter): @SophiyaMathew1 ... Read More

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