Flash255 at 13:42, 23 June 2025

2025-06-23T13:42:19Z

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{{COI|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox project
| name = Happiness Curriculum
| logo =
| image = [[File:Teacher in a Happiness Class.jpg|350px]]
| caption = Ongoing Happiness Class in a primary school in Delhi
| mission_statement =
| type = [[Curriculum]]
| location = [[Delhi]]
| country = India
| key_people =
| owner = [[Government of Delhi]]
| established = {{Start date|2018|07|02|df=y}}
| current_status = Active
| website = 
}}

'''Happiness Curriculum''' is an educational program for children studying in [[Education in India#Levels of schooling|nursery to grade eight]] in schools run by the [[Government of Delhi]] since July 2018. The objective is to improve the mental well-being of pupils, and it teaches [[mindfulness]], [[Social emotional development|social-emotional learning]], [[critical thinking]], [[problem solving]], and [[relationship building]]. Its purpose is to build emotional awareness, to support decision making with that emotional awareness, to equip pupils with the necessary skills and environment to become purpose-driven, and explore a nuanced idea of happiness. The introduction of the curriculum into government schools of Delhi has been called a reformative step towards [[Education in India#School education|school education in India]].

The idea for the curriculum was laid out by Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi [[Manish Sisodia]], who is also the education minister of the state. It was developed with the help of government experts and the [[State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi|State Council of Educational Research and Training]]. The curriculum is mostly based on the "Happiness Triad" concept of philosopher [[Agrahar Nagraj Sharma]].

Taking inspiration from the curriculum, Indian states [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Uttarakhand]], and Afghanistan, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates are preparing to implement similar programs. In response to the [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19 pandemic]] and a subsequent [[COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India|nationwide lockdown]] in India, the curriculum is being delivered to pupils and their parents via [[interactive voice response]] calls and live [[YouTube]] classes.

== Background and inception==
The idea of introducing a curriculum that addresses challenges of modern society was developed by the [[List of deputy chief ministers of Delhi|Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi]] [[Manish Sisodia]] in 2017. This curriculum was later named the Happiness Curriculum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How the AAP's Manish Sisodia came to start a happiness class in Delhi's government schools|url=https://scroll.in/article/937370/how-the-aaps-manish-sisodia-came-to-start-a-happiness-class-in-delhis-government-schools |last=Sisodia |first=Manish |website=Scroll.in |date=16 September 2019 |access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> A team of 40 professionals includes teachers from Government of Delhi schools, psychologists, education consultants, volunteers and the [[State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi|State Council of Educational Research and Training]]. This team also included senior officials from the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi and people from various [[NGO]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Happiness lessons for Delhi government school students - The Times Of India - Delhi, 6/25/2018|url=https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2018/06/25&entity=Ar03604&sk=D6C579CF&mode=text|website=epaper.timesgroup.com|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

[[File:Dalai Lama, Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwala on Happiness Curriculum Launch.jpg|400px|thumb|The launching ceremony of the curriculum.|left]]

The curriculum was launched on 2 July 2018. The launch ceremony was attended by the [[14th Dalai Lama]], and the [[Chief Minister of Delhi]] [[Arvind Kejriwal]]. School officials and teachers from more than 1,000 public schools across Delhi were present at the launch.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2018-07-03|title=Dalai Lama launches govt's Happiness Curriculum|language=en-IN|newspaper=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/dalai-lama-launches-govts-happiness-curriculum/article24315738.ece|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

[https://dreamadream.org/ Dream a Dream] a non-governmental organization anchored the curriculum in collaboration with other NGOs like Abhibhavak Vidyalaya, Circle of Life, Blue Orb Foundation and [[Labhya Foundation]]. As an anchor, Dream a Dream, supported in content development of the curriculum, engaged and provided capacity building sessions for Mentor Teachers and helped in developing an assessment tool to measure the implementation and impact of the curriculum on students and teachers.

== Framework ==
The curriculum is based on philosophies of thinkers and educationists such as [[Mahatma Gandhi]],{{Sfn|Yadav|2019|p=11}} [[Rabindranath Tagore]] and [[Jiddu Krishnamurthy]].<ref>{{cite web |author1=Robin Keshaw Keshaw |title=Taking Cue From Delhi Govt's Happiness Curriculum, National Education Policy Must Include Social And Emotional Learning |url=https://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/awareness/delhi-government-happiness-curriculum/ |website=The Logical Indian |access-date=9 May 2020 |date=12 July 2019 }}</ref> It is primarily based on the concept of the "Happiness Triad" proposed by philosopher Agrahar Nagraj Sharma, according to which there are three components of happiness – momentary happiness, long term happiness and sustainable happiness.{{Sfn|Yadav|2019|p=12}} It is also based on Nagraj's concept of "coexistential thought" ({{lang|hi|Madhyasth Darshan}}), which is about simplicity, generosity, kindness and benevolence in the pursuit of happiness.<ref>{{citation |last1=Sisodia |first1=Manish |title=Shiksha: My Experiments as an Education Minister |year=2019 |publisher=[[Random House|Penguin Random House India Private Limited]] |isbn=978-93-5305-641-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqCuDwAAQBAJ |pages=153–155}}</ref> The curriculum also includes concepts about self and relationships with family, society and nature.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madhyasth Darshan|url=http://madhyasth-darshan.info/introduction/brief/|website=Madhyasth Darshan|author=A. Nagraj|date=5 April 2017 }}</ref>

The curriculum is laid out according to the guidelines of the [[National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005)|National Curriculum Framework 2005]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Delhi schools' happiness classes are bursting stress among students|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/how-delhi-schools-happiness-classes-is-bursting-stress-among-students/story-YgHgs3uOtHmK3NctkENehP.html|date=2019-07-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> It is a grade-specific curriculum for all pupils from nursery to grade eight in schools run by the Government of Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=To be happy, be an adult: How Delhi schools are teaching children to be happy|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/how-delhi-schools-are-teaching-children-to-be-happy/77913/|last=Sharma|first=Kritika|date=2018-07-03|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

=== Guiding questions ===
[[File:Delhi Government School Student defining Happiness in Happiness Class.jpg|thumb|A student defining "Happiness" during a Happiness Class]]

The curriculum employs techniques such as [[mindfulness]], reflective stories, interactive activities, and expression to equip pupils with the necessary skills and mindsets to answer the following questions: What makes me happy? How can I be an instrument in other people's happiness?<ref name="WEF Indian schools">{{Cite web|title=These Indian schools are giving lessons in happiness|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/india-school-lessons-in-happiness-dalai-lama/|website=World Economic Forum|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Teachers use a manual to help pupils explore these questions,{{Sfn|Yadav|2019|p=14}} whose aim is to enable them to understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions and themselves, their families, their environment and the society at large.<ref name="WEF Indian schools"/> The learning outcomes of the curriculum are awareness and focus, critical thinking and reflection, social-emotional skills, and a confident and pleasant personality{{Sfn|Yadav|2019|pp=25-26}}

== Syllabus and classroom approach ==
[[File:Happiness Curriculum Framework.pdf|thumb|Framework document of Happiness Curriculum, published by the [[State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi]]]]

The Government of Delhi has established a committee with 200 mentors to manage the curriculum's classes in its schools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mentor teachers—Delhi govt's secret sauce for education reforms|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/mentor-teachers-delhi-govts-secret-sauce-for-education-reforms-6079484/|date=2019-10-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-09}}</ref> The curriculum for all the grades is activity-based with no formal examination or textual reading material. No grades are given; assessments are predominantly qualitative.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Explained: What is Delhi's 'happiness class', and how is it implemented?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-happiness-curriculum-6281103/|date=2020-02-23|newspaper=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

The curriculum's modules are progressive: pupils explore themes more in depth as they move to higher grades. There are separate activities, stories, expressions, reflective questions and mindfulness activities for each grade from nursery to eight. Lessons include learning to be aware of one's emotions in nursery and understanding the purpose of one's body and one's self in grade eight.{{Sfn|Yadav|2019|p=14}}

== Impact ==
[[File:Happiness Activity Delhi Government School.jpg|thumb|Pupils taking part in an activity in during a Happiness Class|right]]

The program is run in over a thousand Government of Delhi schools;<ref>{{Citation|title=Have You Ever seen a Happiness Class in Schools? (BBC Hindi)| date=22 August 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAABYR5P7VE|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Delhi government launches 'happiness curriculum' for school students |url=https://scroll.in/latest/885008/delhi-government-launches-happiness-curriculum-for-school-students |website=Scroll |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=2 July 2018}}</ref> according to Sisodia, "Mindfulness is practised by all 16 lakh [1.6 million] pupils everyday".<ref name="Happiness classes to homes - TINE">{{cite web |title='Happiness classes' to be conducted at homes of Delhi govt school students |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/apr/13/happiness-classes-to-be-conducted-at-homes-of-delhi-govt-school-students-2129377.html |website=The New Indian Express |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=13 April 2020 }}</ref> Many teachers and parents have reported the pupils' interest in academics and their behaviour has improved because of the curriculum.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Helyn Kim |author2=Sreehari Ravindranath |author3=Vishal Talreja |title=How do you measure happiness? Exploring the happiness curriculum in Delhi schools |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2019/11/13/how-do-you-measure-happiness-exploring-the-happiness-curriculum-in-delhi-schools/ |website=Brookings |publisher=The Brookings Institution |access-date=16 May 2020 |date=13 November 2019 }}</ref>

Dream a Dream<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://dreamadream.org/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Dream a Dream|language=en-US}}</ref> in partnership with Brookings Institution conducted a pilot study in the year 2019 to design an assessment tool for Happiness Curriculum (HC) and published a report.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Esther Care |author2=Vishal Talreja |author3=Sreehari Ravindranath |author4=Aynur Gul Sahin |date=2020-08-14|title=Development of student and teacher measures of Happiness Curriculum factors|url=https://www.brookings.edu/research/development-of-student-and-teacher-measures-of-happiness-curriculum-factors/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Brookings|language=en-US}}</ref> The study was designed to complete the first step toward an evaluation of the program that would provide information to schools, nongovernment organization implementers, and government agencies concerning student and teacher adoption of the desired outcomes of the HC. To understand and assess the impact of the Happiness program, The two surveys were developed—one for students and one for teachers—reflecting factors aligned to the Happiness Curriculum objectives and learning outcomes. For future anticipated use in evaluation studies, the two surveys provided a basis to capture student and teacher functioning on various factors.

The report developed in collaboration with Dream a Dream reflects:
# Impact on Students: Better relationship with teachers, increased participation inside the classroom and increased focus and mindfulness among students.
# Impact on Teachers: Priorities values over academic success, changing teaching orientation and increased collaboration among teachers.

== Reception ==
The curriculum was praised by several media outlets, including [[Le Monde]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-08-17|title=A Delhi, les enfants apprennent le bonheur à l'école|language=fr|work=Le Monde.fr|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/m-actu/article/2018/08/17/a-delhi-les-enfants-apprennent-le-bonheur-a-l-ecole_5343526_4497186.html|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> [[World Economic Forum]],<ref name="WEF Indian schools" /> and [[NPR]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=To Focus On Students' Emotional Well-Being, India Tries 'Happiness Classes'|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/28/632761402/to-focus-on-students-emotional-well-being-india-tries-happiness-classes|website=NPR.org|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> and was called a reformative step towards school education in India.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Albert P Rayan |title=Happy classes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/education/happy-classes/article31126290.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=20 May 2020 |date=21 March 2020 }}</ref> Happiness classes have been visited by several institutional heads, academicians, officials from education departments of other state governments in India and abroad.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Delhi government kicks off 'Happiness Utsav' in schools|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/delhi-government-kick-offs-happiness-utsav-in-schools-1570253-2019-07-17|website=India Today|date=17 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Anand Kumar visits Delhi school for Happiness Utsav; govt declares Super 30 tax-free|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/anand-kumar-visits-delhi-school-for-happiness-utsav-govt-declares-super-30-tax-free/articleshow/70360601.cms|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Want to replicate model in my state', says Odisha edu minister at Happiness Utsav|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/want-to-replicate-model-in-my-state-odisha-edu-minister-at-happiness-utsav/story-tJ9EyisFewKpUxE2k8gfrO.html|date=2019-07-29 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Four states to replicate Delhi's Happiness classes |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/four-states-to-replicate-delhi-s-happiness-classes/story-0kfmrV60MPYtoXIZR7q7xO.html|date=2019-07-31|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Versions of the curriculum have been adopted by Indian states [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=After Delhi, AP schools to have happiness curriculum|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/after-delhi-ap-schools-to-have-happiness-curriculum/articleshow/69224415.cms|website=The Times of India|date=8 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Happiness classes in Uttarakhand govt schools from July 1|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/happiness-classes-in-uttarakhand-govt-schools-from-july-1/articleshow/68997442.cms|website=The Times of India|date=23 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Afghanistan, Nepal, and the United Arab Emirates are also preparing to implement similar programs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Afghanistan To Adopt Delhi's "Happiness Class" For School Kids|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/afghanistan-to-adopt-delhis-happiness-curriculum-for-school-kids-1932235|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why Nepal, UAE And Afghanistan Want Their Schools To Emulate Delhi's Happiness Classes|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/why-nepal-uae-and-afghanistan-want-their-schools-to-emulate-delhis-happiness-classes-507108.html|date=2020-02-25|website=indiatimes.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

At the first anniversary celebration of the curriculum in July 2019, the [[Chief Justice of India]] [[Ranjan Gogoi]] praised it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CJI proposes happiness classes in judicial academies, schools|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/cji-proposes-happiness-classes-in-judicial-academies-schools/story-RSYrjOmhKtkmdCiEbIYSJO.html|date=2019-07-31|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> During her visit to India, on 25 February 2020, the [[First Lady of the United States]] [[Melania Trump]] visited a happiness class at a school run by the Government of Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Melania Trump tweets videos, pics of 'inspiring' Happiness Curriculum and Reading Classroom|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/melania-trump-tweets-videos-pics-of-inspiring-happiness-curriculum-and-reading-classroom/story-wOim1J1gF9dWQREEuxWjfO.html|date=2020-02-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

One of the many designers of the curriculum, working under the name [http://www.labhya.org/ Labhya Foundation], won the Harvard Social Impact Fund Competition of 2020.

== Response to COVID-19 pandemic ==
On 5 March 2020, the Government of Delhi issued orders to shut all of its primary schools to tackle the spread of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]]. This order was later extended to all educational institutions in the state.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-03-06|title=Delhi schools closed: All primary schools shut as coronavirus spreads|newspaper=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/coronavirus-in-india-all-primary-schools-in-delhi-to-be-shut-till-march-31/articleshow/74493367.cms|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> On 25 March, the Government of India announced a [[COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India|nationwide lockdown]],<ref>{{cite web |author1=Jeffrey Gettleman |author2=Kai Schultz |author-link1=Jeffrey Gettleman |title=Modi Orders 3-Week Total Lockdown for All 1.3 Billion Indians |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/world/asia/india-coronavirus-lockdown.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=16 May 2020 |date=24 March 2020 }}</ref> and with increased stress and anxiety during the lockdown, delivery and execution of the Happiness Curriculum was taken to homes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=COVID-19 lockdown: Delhi's Happiness Classes enter home - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/covid-19-lockdown-delhis-happiness-classes-enter-home/articleshow/75122243.cms |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref> Each parent received [[interactive voice response]] calls to guide them with "Happiness" activities, stories, and mindfulness practices.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Happiness classes' to be conducted at homes of Delhi govt school children |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-happiness-classes-to-be-conducted-at-homes-of-delhi-govt-school-children/articleshow/75105728.cms |website=Business Insider |access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[21st century skills]]
*[[Outcome-based education]]
*[[Social emotional development]]
*[[Student-centred learning]]
*[[Patriotism Curriculum]]

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation |last1=Yadav |first1=Mukesh |title=Happiness Curriculum |year=2019 |publisher=[[State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi]] |isbn=978-93-85943-72-0|url=http://www.edudel.nic.in/welcome_folder/happiness/HappinessCurriculumFramework_2019.pdf}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
*[https://happinessdelhi.blogspot.com/ Happiness Curriculum blog]
*[https://twitter.com/HappinessDelhi Happiness Curriculum Twitter handle]
*[https://www.facebook.com/HappinessDelhi/ Happiness Curriculum Facebook page]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Education in Delhi]]
[[Category:Curricula]]
[[Category:Happiness]]

Happiness Curriculum - Revision history

Flash255 at 13:42, 23 June 2025