Sun May 04 15:58:23 UTC 2025: ## Indian Class 7 Students to Learn Traditional Games Through New Textbooks

**New Delhi, May 4, 2025** – Indian seventh graders will be introduced to traditional games and activities as part of a new curriculum implemented by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The initiative, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to integrate indigenous games into the Physical Education and Well-being curriculum.

The new textbook, “Khel Yatra,” features games from various Indian states. Unit 1 introduces “Ghorpadiche Shepoot” (Lizard’s Tail) from Maharashtra, a team game referencing the Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare’s legendary use of a lizard to scale a fort. Other games included are “Gidhada Gudkavan” (Hawk and Chickens), also from Maharashtra, and “Nalugu Rallu Ata” (Four Stones Game) from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Further units introduce games such as “Dhaan ki Bori” (Sack of Grain), “Atya-Patya” (a tag game), “Dapo Nyarka Sunam” (a bamboo wrestling game from the Northeast), and “Madhu and Manu” (another tag game). The curriculum also incorporates badminton, football, kabaddi, yoga, and pranayama.

A second textbook, “Kaushal Bodh,” introduces vocational concepts including puppetry, tie-and-dye techniques (Leheriya, Bandhani, Batik, and Madurai Sungudi), gardening, and artificial intelligence. The puppetry section even references a puppet-headed bull excavated from the Sindhu-Sarasvati Civilization.

NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani stated that “Khel Yatra” emphasizes physical activity and essential life values, incorporating themes of inclusion, gender equality, and cultural rootedness. The new textbooks represent a significant step towards integrating India’s rich cultural heritage into the national education system.

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