The Uttar Pradesh basic education department has introduced a calendar of traditional Indian games for students of Classes 1 to 8 across government primary and upper primary schools. The move is aimed at reconnecting children with their cultural roots and curbing the growing mobile phone addiction.
For representation only (HT File Photo)
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The initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to encourage physical activity and reduce children’s screen time by promoting indigenous games like Posham Pa and Langdi Taang.
The calendar, prepared by experts from the State Institute of Education (SIE), Prayagraj—a unit of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT)—has been distributed digitally to around 1.5 lakh schools across the state, for the benefit of over 1.5 crore students.
“The illustrated PDF calendar has been shared with school principals, who have been instructed to incorporate these games into teacher-parent meetings and other school events to actively engage children,” said Anil Kumar, principal in-charge, SIE-Prayagraj.
This initiative is a step toward reviving traditional games and improving both mental and physical health among students, he added.
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Officials hope the games will not only promote fitness and teamwork but also instill cultural pride among young learners.
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Officials hope the games will not only promote fitness and teamwork but also instill cultural pride among young learners.
K. Sandeep Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor and Bureau Head of Hindustan Times in Prayagraj, where he leads the newspaper's editorial coverage across the region. With more than 25 years of experience in journalism, he has built a reputation for credible, in-depth and impact-driven reporting on Uttar Pradesh's governance, politics, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence, infrastructure and development. Over the course of his career, Sandeep has consistently broken and tracked stories that have shaped public discourse, with a particular focus on policy, public institutions and issues that directly affect people's lives. His reporting combines rigorous fieldwork with data-backed analysis, making complex subjects accessible to a wide readership. He has also written extensively on human-interest stories that spotlight resilience, innovation and social change across urban and rural Uttar Pradesh. As Prayagraj Bureau Head, he mentors reporters, drives editorial planning and ensures comprehensive coverage of one of India's most politically and culturally significant regions. His work is marked by accuracy, balance and context, reflecting a commitment to public-interest journalism and high editorial standards. Through his reporting, Sandeep continues to chronicle the evolving social, economic and political landscape of Uttar Pradesh while delivering insightful and reliable journalism for Hindustan Times readers.
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Home/Cities/Others/Curbing phone addiction: Desi, physical games to challenge e-game fixation at UP govt primary schools
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