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Campus Talk: Read more, learn more is Maharashtra students’ New Year resolution

The Maharashtra government's 15-day campaign is intended to promote reading culture among students.

Maharashtra students reading books in a college campus outside classesCommittees at various levels will oversee the campaignand the final winners will be honoured at a special event. (Express File/Representative Photo)

In a statewide initiative, the Maharashtra government will launch a 15-day campaign from January 1 aimed at promoting reading culture among students, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil announced last week as he assumed charge.

This campaign will start in all state- and private-run colleges and universities. College students will be asked to read books other than their textbooks, and colleges and universities are instructed to hold events and competitions related to reading.

The Higher and Technical Education Department issued a government resolution (GR) providing detailed information about the 15-day campaign, which will now be held annually in January. According to the GR, this initiative will include various activities aimed at motivating students to read, such as group-reading sessions, story-telling, book discussions, workshops, competitions, and book reviews.

Committees at various levels will oversee the campaign, ensuring that the activities are carried out effectively throughout the state. At a special event, the final winners of various activities will be honoured.

Discussions, related activities in the pipeline

An official from the department said: “The idea is to get students to pick any book of their choice, which is not part of their syllabus. After reading, they will write a review. Colleges and universities will also organise discussions and other related activities based on the books.”

The Maharashtra government aims to nurture a generation that values reading as a crucial aspect of intellectual and personal growth by engaging students in meaningful reading activities. In addition to prizes for top performers, the state government is considering additional incentives to motivate students to read more. This initiative seeks to promote a reading culture and address concerns about excessive screen time by encouraging college students to develop a love for reading.

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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