Sanskrit in Rajasthan’s Pre-Primary Classes | 21 Aug 2025

Why in News? 

Rajasthan is set to introduce Sanskrit as a subject for pre-primary classes in state government schools, a first in the country, aiming to teach the ancient language to children aged 3 to 5.  

Key Points 

• Curriculum Development: Sanskrit books tailored for pre-primary students have been developed by the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT) and have been approved by NCERT and the state government.  
  • These books are designed for use in both Sanskrit and Hindi/English medium government schools, demonstrating the initiative’s inclusive approach. 
  • Each book also includes a list of taught words in Sanskrit, Hindi, and English, along with space for children to write the words in their mother tongue. 
  • The material includes illustrations of everyday items (numbers, animals, birds) with corresponding Sanskrit words.  
• State’s Long-Term Vision: Rajasthan currently has 2,369 Sanskrit schools. The project will roll out in three phases: 
  • Phase 1: Sanskrit will be introduced in 757 new pre-primary Sanskrit schools, set to open within a month. 
  • Phase 2 & 3: Sanskrit will be introduced in 962 Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools (MGEMS) and 660 PM-Shree Schools across Rajasthan by next year. 
• Alignment with NEP: The books align with the National Education Policy (NEP) and include concepts such as numbers, days of the week, body parts, and moral stories.  

Sanskrit Language 

• It is an Indo-Aryan language and is considered to be one of the oldest languages, and is known as the mother of most languages of India. 
• It is believed to have originated in India around 3500 years ago and is often referred to as Dev Vani (the language of the deities). 
• It is divided into two parts which are Vedic and classical. 
  • Vedic Sanskrit is the older and more archaic form of Sanskrit, which is attested in the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Puranas. 
  • Classical Sanskrit is the later and more standardised form of Sanskrit, which is based on the grammar of Panini and used in literature, philosophy, science, and art.