After making yoga, Surya Namaskar and meditation mandatory in schools, the Rajasthan government has now directed them to devote five minutes to reading out newspapers during the morning assembly.
Government and private schools have been asked to follow the directive.
In an order on Tuesday, the School Education Department directed schools to earmark 20 minutes for the assembly of which five minutes should be dedicated to prayers, singing of the National Anthem and the National Song and taking the pledge; 10 minutes to yoga, Surya Namaskar and meditation; and five minutes to reading out Hindi and English dailies.
The order said these would help improve the academic environment in schools, and the physical and mental health of students.