J&K govt school students to get free books and uniforms: Minister Shameema Firdous
Synopsis
J&K Education Minister Shameema Firdous has announced free textbooks and uniforms for all government school students, backed by a Books Day initiative and a warning to private schools charging up to ₹10,000 per book set. An order regulating private school book prices is reportedly imminent — a rare direct intervention into private education pricing in the Union Territory.
Key Takeaways
J&K Education Minister Shameema Firdous announced free textbooks and uniforms for government school students on 9 November 2026 .
A Books Day initiative has been launched to relieve the financial burden on families who cannot afford textbooks.
Private school book sets priced between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000 are set to face a government order regulating costs.
Firdous will call a meeting with the Education Director and officials to implement the initiative in a disciplined manner.
The minister also flagged that J&K Bank's recruitment age cap of 30 years should be raised to 40 years , given no appointments in the past 10 years .
Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Shameema Firdous announced on Monday, 9 November 2026 that students enrolled in J&K government schools will receive free textbooks and uniforms, a move aimed at bridging the gap between government and private school students. The announcement marks a significant step in the administration's push to make public education more equitable across the Union Territory.
What the Scheme Entails
Speaking to reporters, Minister Firdous stated that the government is taking concrete steps to ensure children in state-run schools are equipped at par with their counterparts in private institutions. 'Why do we give more to private schools? Our children have to work hard; they have to be brought to the same level as private school children,' she said.
The administration has also launched a Books Day initiative to ease the financial burden on families who cannot afford textbooks. Firdous noted that many households struggle with educational costs, and the initiative is designed to remove that barrier entirely.
Action Against Costly Private School Books
The minister took direct aim at private institutions currently charging steep prices for book sets, reportedly ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 per set. 'The book sets they have kept for ₹10,000, ₹6,000, ₹7,000, we are going to pass an order very soon on that,' she said, warning that the government intends to regulate these prices. Firdous added that she would convene a meeting with the Education Director and senior officials to formalise the action plan.
Impact on Government School Enrolment
Firdous expressed confidence that the free books and uniforms initiative would increase the attractiveness of government schools among parents, potentially reversing the long-running trend of families opting for private institutions despite the higher cost. This comes amid broader national efforts to strengthen public schooling infrastructure under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework.
J&K Bank Recruitment Age Limit Concern
On a separate issue, the minister flagged concern over J&K Bank's recruitment age limit of 30 years, calling it inadequate given that no appointments have been made for the past 10 years. 'They should keep it up to 40 years, because no appointment has taken place for the last 10 years. Keeping that in view, they should reconsider this,' she said. The remark signals that the government may push the bank to revise its hiring criteria in the near future.
Point of View
As across India, are often visibly disadvantaged compared to private school peers, and cost remains a leading reason families migrate to private institutions despite the strain. The more consequential signal, however, is the government's stated intent to regulate private school book pricing. If a formal order follows through on the minister's ₹10,000 book set remark, it would be an unusually direct intervention into private education commerce — one that could invite legal challenges from school managements. The J&K Bank age-limit remark is a secondary story with significant employment implications: a decade of zero appointments in a major public-sector institution is a governance failure that deserves a fuller audit than a single ministerial comment.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has J&K announced for government school students?
J&K Education Minister Shameema Firdous announced on 9 November 2026 that students in government schools across the Union Territory will receive free textbooks and uniforms. The initiative, which includes a Books Day programme, is designed to place government school children on an equal footing with private school students.
What is the Books Day initiative in Jammu and Kashmir?
The Books Day initiative is a government programme aimed at ensuring that children and their parents do not face financial difficulty in procuring textbooks. It is part of the broader free books and uniforms scheme announced by Education Minister Firdous.
Will the J&K government regulate private school book prices?
Yes, Minister Firdous stated that an order is expected soon to address private school book sets priced between ₹6,000 and ₹10,000. She said a meeting with the Education Director and other officials will be held to finalise the regulatory framework.
Why did the minister raise the J&K Bank recruitment age limit issue?
Firdous called it a matter of regret that J&K Bank has set a recruitment age cap of 30 years, arguing it should be raised to 40 years given that no appointments have been made for the past 10 years. She urged the bank to reconsider its policy in light of this gap.
How will free books and uniforms help J&K government schools?
The minister believes the initiative will increase the appeal of government schools among parents and reduce the financial barrier to education. By providing free textbooks and uniforms, the government hopes to attract more families to public institutions and reduce dropout rates linked to cost.
