The Aam Admi Party (AAP) government in the national Capital announced the introduction of a "happiness curriculum" in government schools from the coming academic session. The curriculum will be launched by the Dalai Lama on July 2.

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Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia made the announcement on Wednesday saying, "The curriculum will be taught to around eight lakh students from nursery up to class 8 students of all the Delhi government schools from July." The final draft of the curriculum was approved at a meeting chaired by him. The work was started on the curriculum from January this year and a team of 35-40 experts worked on it.

Under the curriculum, students will be taught meditation, moral values and mental exercises among other activities. "The core idea is to produce "sarvagun sampann" (versatile) "professionals and human beings who could serve the society with happiness," Sisodia said.

"After ten years or more, these children will become professionals like doctors and engineers filled with happiness and serve the society," he said.

Sisodia also cited his visit to Harvard University from where the idea of "happiness" courses triggered. "The authorities there told him that they were running "happiness" courses but that they were not as large as what the Delhi government was planning for its 1000 schools, having eight lakh students," he said.

Meanwhile, officials at the government schools hailed the idea but they are apprehensive about its implementation. "It is an interesting concept but implementation will be the key to any result. We need to involve experts to handle the students' issues," said a government teacher.