Delhi Zoo's Summer Vacation Programme 2026 kicks off with 854 students
Synopsis
Over 850 Delhi-NCR school students signed up for the National Zoological Park's two-week Summer Vacation Programme — a government-backed conservation curriculum blending wildlife walks, expert talks, and Mission LiFE sessions. With only 60 spots available, the oversubscribed response signals strong demand for experiential environmental education well outside the classroom.
Key Takeaways
The National Zoological Park's SVP 2026 launched on 21 May 2025 at the Education Centre in New Delhi.
854 students registered online; only 60 were selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
On Day 1, 39 students from 15 schools across Delhi-NCR attended the inaugural session.
The programme runs from 21 May to 6 June , open to students from Classes VI to XII .
Activities include wildlife photography, heritage walks, expert talks, and Mission LiFE awareness sessions.
The initiative is aligned with the World Environment Day theme 'Inspired by Nature.
The National Zoological Park in New Delhi launched its Summer Vacation Programme (SVP) 2026 on 21 May 2025, drawing students from across Delhi-NCR for a two-week immersive curriculum centred on biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable living. The programme, held at the zoo's Education Centre, marks a structured effort by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to connect school-going children with conservation science through hands-on learning.
Launch Day Highlights
Zoo Director Sanjeet Kumar inaugurated the programme by interacting with participants, stressing the role of modern and innovative technologies in biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship. On the inaugural day, 39 students from 15 schools across Delhi-NCR attended with notable enthusiasm, according to an official statement.
The opening session included an orientation covering SVP 2026's objectives, a guided tour of herbivore and carnivore enclosures, and an expert talk on biodiversity delivered by Faiyaz A. — timed to coincide with the eve of the International Day for Biological Diversity.
Registration and Selection Process
A total of 854 students registered online through a Google registration link hosted on the National Zoological Park's official website. Of these, 60 participants were shortlisted on a first-come, first-served basis and contacted telephonically for confirmation. The programme runs in two slots — Slot A and Slot B — with 50 participants per slot, divided equally between 25 junior and 25 senior students.
Programme Schedule and Activities
The two-week curriculum, running from 21 May to 6 June, is open to students from Classes VI to XII. Activities span wildlife photography, art and craft, heritage walks, slogan writing, poster-making competitions, cleanliness awareness campaigns, clay modelling, essay writing, exhibitions, and expert talks. Mission LiFE awareness sessions are also woven into the schedule.
The programme is organised under the Mass Mobilisation Campaign for Mission LiFE and aligned with the World Environment Day theme: 'Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.'
Broader Conservation Context
This comes amid growing institutional focus on environmental education at the school level, with the Centre increasingly embedding conservation literacy into extracurricular frameworks. The National Zoological Park's SVP is one of the few government-run programmes that offers direct wildlife exposure combined with structured expert interaction for students outside the formal curriculum. Notably, the programme's alignment with both Mission LiFE and World Environment Day signals a deliberate policy push to embed climate messaging in youth outreach ahead of 5 June.
The programme will continue through early June, with organisers expected to showcase student work at an exhibition before the closing session.
Point of View
And mainstream coverage will likely miss it. It reflects genuine demand for structured, experiential science education that public schools are not consistently delivering. The government's decision to tie SVP to Mission LiFE and World Environment Day is smart optics, but the programme's real value lies in direct wildlife exposure, which no classroom module replicates. The challenge is scale: 60 students over two weeks is a pilot, not a policy. Unless the zoo expands capacity or the model is replicated across state-run zoos, the impact remains symbolic.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Zoological Park's Summer Vacation Programme 2026?
It is a two-week educational programme held at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi from 21 May to 6 June 2025, designed for students from Classes VI to XII. The programme covers biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, climate action, and sustainable living through guided tours, expert talks, and creative activities.
How many students can participate in SVP 2026?
A total of 854 students registered online, but only 60 were selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The programme runs in two slots of 50 participants each, with 25 junior and 25 senior students per slot.
What activities are included in the Delhi Zoo summer programme?
The schedule includes wildlife photography, art and craft, heritage walks, slogan writing, poster-making, clay modelling, essay writing, cleanliness campaigns, expert talks, and Mission LiFE awareness sessions.
Which theme does SVP 2026 follow?
The programme is aligned with the World Environment Day theme 'Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.' and is conducted under the Mass Mobilisation Campaign for Mission LiFE.
When does the Delhi Zoo Summer Vacation Programme 2026 end?
The programme runs from 21 May to 6 June 2025. An exhibition showcasing student work is expected before the closing session.
