Govt is reviewing design norms for lighter schoolbags

Centre has commissioned a study by BIS to update four-decade-old bag design norms

- Dhirendra Kumar

Indian students are known to carry schoolbags weighing more than their body weight, putting their posture and health at risk.

The government aims to make the bags lighter, more durable, and ergonomically designed to reduce physical strain on children.

The Centre has commissioned a study by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to update the 1982 schoolbag standard, said two government officials aware of the development. The revised norms will focus on balancing capacity, weight and comfort—key factors in preventing musculoskeletal stress among schoolchildren.