Rajasthan Launches "Khushi Shala" Programme | 13 Nov 2025

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) has launched a pioneering mental health and well-being initiative, Khushi Shala, aimed at students in classes 1-5.  

• Rajasthan is the first state in India to introduce such a programme in primary education. 

Key Features 

• Objective: The programme seeks to promote mental well-being among young students by teaching them how to handle both success and failure. 
  • It encourages children to embrace their learning journey without getting demotivated by setbacks. 
• Core Components: 
  • Mindfulness Exercises: Activities to foster awareness of the connection between body and mind. 
  • Compassion Development: Activities designed to nurture compassion among students. 
  • Self-Discovery Guidance: Helping students identify their personal values and pursue what matters to them. 
• Pilot Project (2024): Conducted in 30 schools each in the Sirohi and Banswara districts, training 120 teachers to observe changes in students. 
• Teacher Training: 
  • After the pilot project, 165 teachers were trained to form a State Resource Group. These teachers are now training additional educators at the district level. 
  • By December 2025, the department plans to have 40 trained teachers in every district, with an eventual target of training approximately 12,000 teachers statewide. 
  • The goal is to ensure at least one trained teacher in every panchayat. 
• Teacher Handbooks: 
  • Specialized handbooks for classes 1-5 have been developed in partnership with Kshamtalaya Foundation and Brio, a US-based non-profit organization. 
  • These handbooks have been designed, reviewed, approved, and printed for master trainers. 
  • Mobile-friendly versions of the handbooks will be available to all primary school teachers starting December.