In a bid to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state education department has directed all schools under the State Board, including primary, secondary schools, and junior colleges, to establish ‘Student Clubs’ or ‘Vidyarthi Samuha’ by September 15.

Schools have been instructed to form as many clubs as possible across categories such as academic and intellectual, artistic and cultural, sports, social, charitable, and skill-based, involving students from Std I to XII. It has been mandated that every student must be enrolled in at least one club. Institutions are also required to appoint members and mentors for each club.

The guidelines outline more than 30 options, including language clubs in Marathi, English, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as student groups focusing on economics, mathematics, vocational learning, emergency management, environment, sanitation, and more.