Dharmendra Pradhan revises draft mental health policy for schools; he says that well-being is the key to quality education

The education minister also said the policy should “leverage Indian knowledge systems and culture” and be “practically feasible”, with female teachers forming the first level of mentors for students. File | Photo credit: Getty Images

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a review meeting on the draft National Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for Schools and sought a holistic and preventive approach to promote mental well-being across the education ecosystem.

The meeting was attended by officials, committee members and area experts and focused on boosting mental wellbeing among students, teachers and the wider school community, the Ministry of Education said in a post on X on Friday (June 5, 2026).

Hon’ble Union Education Minister, Shri @dpradhanbjpchaired a detailed discussion during a review meeting with officers, committee members and subject matter experts on the proposed National Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for Schools.

The discussion focused on… pic.twitter.com/pjqSbwRb26

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) June 5, 2026

“Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a detailed discussion during a review meeting with officials, committee members and field experts on the proposed draft National Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for Schools,” the ministry said. It was unclear when the meeting took place.

Emphasizing the importance of a holistic and preventive approach, Mr. Pradhan emphasized the need to “foster a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment, build a positive school culture that promotes mental well-being, empathy, caring, trust and emotional resilience, and integrate mental health and well-being into school systems, practices and implementation as an integral part of quality education”.

The minister also said the policy should “leverage Indian knowledge systems and culture” and be “practically feasible”, with female teachers forming the first level of mentors for students. Officials said last month that the department is also ready to implement a school-level mental health policy and publish it soon.

“We will put it in the public domain soon,” the official said, adding that it is likely to be released in the first week of June. “A child’s mental health is affected not only by the school, but also by the home environment. Therefore, it is essential that everyone gets together and regularly checks the child’s academic and overall progress,” he said.

The policy is expected to focus on strengthening mental health support systems in schools, including counseling and early identification of stress among students.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 15:11 IST