J&K School Education Dept Denies Reports on Sanskrit Inclusion in School Curriculum

No Proposal Initiated or Approved Says Official Statement

Srinagar July 19: The School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has categorically refuted recent media reports suggesting the introduction of Sanskrit as a mandatory subject in government schools from Class 6 to 10 across the Kashmir division.

A statement issued by the department on Friday clarified that no such directive or communication has been received from the Ministry of Education, Government of India. “There is no proposal under consideration to make Sanskrit compulsory or optional at any level in the school curriculum as of now,” the department said, dismissing the claims as “misleading and baseless.”
The clarification comes in response to a news report published on July 18 in a local English daily, which claimed that Sanskrit would soon be introduced as a compulsory subject in middle and high school classes, and as an optional subject in primary grades.
Setting the record straight, the department explained that a representation from an NGO—Shri Purshotam Lal Dube—had been submitted to the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, requesting the inclusion of Sanskrit in educational institutions across the Union Territory under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“This representation was merely forwarded by the LG Secretariat to the School and Higher Education departments for comments. As per standard procedure, it was further sent to the respective Directorates in Jammu and Kashmir divisions to seek feedback. No further action has been taken,” the statement clarified.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, the department emphasized that any changes to the school curriculum would be made through a consultative and structured process, adhering to the guidelines laid out by NEP 2020. “All official decisions will be communicated through proper channels,” the statement added.
The department also urged media outlets to verify sensitive educational information from official sources before publication, warning against the spread of misinformation that could create confusion among students, parents, and educators.