Delhi to launch mental well-being policy for students and youth on November 19

The Delhi government is preparing to roll out a dedicated mental well-being policy for students and young people, with a formal launch planned for 19 November at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood shared details of the plan on Wednesday after reviewing the proposal.

Who it will cover

The policy is meant to apply across the capital's education system. It will include CM SHRI schools, government and government-aided schools, private educational institutions, higher education institutions and children with special needs. It will also reach young people who are outside the formal education system.

Reports differed on the upper age limit. The Press Trust of India said the policy will cover children and youth up to 29 years, while The Tribune reported the limit as 25 years. The final figure is expected to be clear when the policy document is released.

According to PTI, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is expected to attend the launch event.

What the policy proposes

A central idea is that looking after children's emotional health should not rest with teachers alone. The policy widens that responsibility to the whole school environment. As part of this, the government has reviewed provisions for psychometric assessments of teaching and non-teaching staff, including transport staff such as bus drivers and attendants who deal with children every day.

Special handbooks have also been prepared, containing structured questions, practical exercises and activities intended to build emotional awareness among students and encourage adults to engage with children responsibly.

Sood said every child deserves a setting where they feel "safe, heard and understood", and argued that conversations about mental well-being should not start only once a child is in crisis. The stated aim is to help students speak openly about their feelings and seek support without fear of stigma, and to broaden schooling beyond marks to confidence and resilience.

Why it matters

Concerns about exam pressure and student stress have grown across India in recent years, and several states and institutions have been looking for structured responses rather than one-off counselling efforts. Delhi's move to bring schools, colleges and private institutions under a single well-being framework could be watched by other states. Key details, including budget, staffing for counsellors and how the policy will be monitored, have not yet been made public and are expected to be clearer after the launch.