Lok Sabha Question No. 2564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Pariksha Pe Charcha, 2025
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Shri Manish Jaiswal, Shri Mukesh Rajput, Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Smt. Himadri Singh, Shri Tejasvi Surya, Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam, Shri Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO -2564 ANSWERED ON - 17/03/2025

## Pariksha Pe Charcha, 2025

† 2564.Shri Pradeep Kumar Singh:

Shri Tejasvi Surya:

Shri Vijay Baghel:

Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam:

Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat:

Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi:

Smt. Himadri Singh:

Shri Mukesh Rajput:

Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:

Shri Jagdambika Pal:

Shri Manish Jaiswal:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  has  ensured  maximum  participation  of students  from  diverse  socio-economic  background,  especially  from  the  rural  and remote areas particularly of Jharkhand in 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' in 2025;
- (b) the manner in which the Government plans to implement and promote the mental health and emotional well-being advise given during Pariksha Pe Charcha specially in Government schools, including Amroha Parliamentary Constituency;
- (c) the tangible benefits derived by the Government from the last year's Pariksha Pe Charcha editions, where celebrities and experts interacted with students; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to expand the format of said programme with the  extraordinary  participation  of  over  five  crore  individual  in  the  current  year wherein, interactive digital platforms or regional level events are likely to be included to engage more students across the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a) Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  conceptualized  a  unique  interactive  programme  Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) wherein students, parents, teachers across the nation and  also  from  overseas  interact  with  him  to  discuss  and  overcome  the  stress, emerging  out  of  examinations  in  order  to  celebrate  life  as  an  Utsav.   In  PPC

programme 2025,  maximum  participation  has  been  ensured  from  students  across diverse socio-economic backgrounds, especially those from rural and remote areas like Jharkhand, NE States, Ladakh etc. through a combination of outreach efforts by coordinating at all levels with the State Government, Autonomous Bodies running the schools  like  NVS,  KVS,  EMRS,  schools  under  Defence,  Railway  Board  amongst others.  Extensive  activities  related  to  PPC,  i.e.  reduction  in  exam  stress  through activities encouraging physical and emotional well-being, were carried out throughout Bharat, over a period of 10 days from 13 th  January to 23 rd  January, 2025. On  23 rd   January,  2025,  coinciding  with  the  Birth  Anniversary  of  Netaji  Subhas Chandra Bose, in almost all Districts across the country, viewing of the series 'Bharat Hain Hum' - a motivational and inspirational series on several freedom fighters was shown to students and quiz on the same was held.  All of these activities resulted in the total participation of over 5 crore in the 8 th  edition of PPC 2025, ensuring that the participants  come from all background; rural, urban, Government, private and also from different countries. Also, it may be noted that in the main episode with Hon'ble Prime  Minister,  36  children  one  each  from  all  States  and  UTs  were  represented. Further, in all the other 7 episodes which has 50 to 60 students, students from all States and UTs and from all types of schools participated.

- (b) (i)  Metal health and its related issues including emotional well being was one of the  major  topics  covered  by  Hon'ble  PM  during  the  recently  held  PPC  which  was disseminated on electronic and digital platforms across the country including Amroha Parliamentary Constituency.  It may be stated that apart from the session of Hon'ble PM, two separate sessions were held on mental health and overcoming them from experts in two of the 7 other episodes that followed.
- (ii) Further, to deal with some of the issues related to mental and emotional well being  of  the  students,  the  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training (N.C.E.R.T.) has introduced the Manodarpan initiative which aims to foster mental well-being awareness among teachers, parents, and students while providing direct psychosocial  support .  The  programmes  are  undertaken  by  Manodarpan  include (a) ' Sahyog' sessions organized with practicing counsellors across different regions for students of classes VI-XII addressing concerns related to mental health and wellbeing  and  (b) ' Paricharcha' webinars  organized  every  Friday  with  experts  in  the field of mental health and education. Further, Mental Health Week (4 th -10 th  October) and World  Mental  Health  Day  (10 th   October)  celebrations  have  been  facilitated  in schools across the country since the year 2020.
- (iii) A National  toll-free  helpline  (844-844-0632) ,  with  countrywide  outreach  to students from schools, colleges and universities and to their families and teachers, has  been  extending  guidance  and  support  to  callers  through  trained  counsellor providing voluntary counselling services since July 2020.
- (iv) Also,  Awareness  and  Capacity  Building  Programmes  such  as  the  National School  Counsellors'  Summit  and  Substance  Abuse  in  schools  has  also  been organised by the Manodarpan Cell, NCERT.
- (c) The success and positive impact of the Pariksha Pe Charcha interaction is reflected clearly in the participation numbers which have increased from 22,000 in 2018 to 2.26 crore in 2024 and then to 3.56 crore registration in 2025. Further, over 1.55 crore undertook activities of PPC 2025. Hence, total participation was over 5 crore in PPC 2025.  Also, it may be stated that the tangible benefits derived from 8 th edition  of  PPC  2025  programme  are  enhanced  awareness  and  strategies  for managing  exam-related  stress  among  students,  leading  to  better  mental  health

outcomes, broad participation across diverse regions through direct interaction with influential  personalities.  It  ensures  inclusivity,  nationwide  and  global  engagement that  fosters  a  sense  of  community  and  collective  responsibility,  motivation  through success  stories  and  a holistic approach  to students' development,  including emotional, physical, and academic growth etc.

- (d) PPC 2025 developed a new format for the main event which spanned eight episodes with prominent personalities and experts including the interaction with the Hon'ble Prime Minister which includes the following:
1. Mental Health issues
2. Tech and Artificial Intelligence in Studies
3. Role of Food and Nutrition in Studies
4. Mindfulness
5. Delivering under Pressure by Artists
6. Focus & Pressure Management by Sports personalities
7. Learning from the toppers

With the success of this episode in this 8 th  Edition, Ministry will continue exploring all avenues  to  ensure  that  the  students,  parents  and  teachers  from  all  parts  of  the country are able to participate meaningfully in the coming years.

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