NCERT Announces NISHTHA Modules and Bano DigiSmart
New Delhi: The mental and emotional well-being of children and young people can not be separated from the place where they learn. Understanding this, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed a set of modules on mental health as part of the ‘National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement' (NISHTHA) for teachers' training. In addition, NCERT developed a short film, ‘Bano DigiSmart’ (Be Digital Smart), in collaboration with UNESCO.
All these resources were launched at the National Workshop on ‘Mental Health and Well-being in Schools’, organized by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) in New Delhi, on November 4, 2026. The two-day workshop, which focuses on re-imagining schools as supportive environments for children, also included an interactive presentation on the Draft National Mental Health and Well-Being Policy for Schools.
NCERT Updates Teacher Training Modules
The workshop also included the launch of the NISHTHA modules developed by NCERT on mental health and well-being of children and young people. With this, NISHTHA modules have been developed to train teachers on various aspects related to child and adolescent well-being as well as their role in creation of safe and supporting school environments.
‘Bano DigiSmart’: NCERT and UNESCO Bring Digital Awareness into the Discussion
As part of the workshop, there was a short film launched called Bano DigiSmart. This was created by NCERT and UNESCO and means that there is a focus on digital awareness. The title highlights the importance of supporting learners in the digital world.
However, the announcement doesn’t state much about the film. It doesn’t give any details regarding the synopsis or target age group. It would be useful to know how it will be distributed to schools. This shows how working with international organisation can be important when developing resources.
Draft National Mental Health Policy for Schools
A key part of the workshop on the 4 th November was the presentation of the key points of the Draft National Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for Schools. This shows that there have been efforts to include mental health and emotional wellbeing within the school education system. This allowed people to consider how this could be done in practice.
The word draft is important here. This should not be confused with an official national policy. The announcement only states that the key points of the policy were presented. This shows how the education system is changing. Schools are being expected to focus more on the emotional and social development of students.
Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura Present Best Practice
As part of the workshop representatives from Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura presented best practice for mental wellbeing in schools.
This gave practical examples from different states. This can help education professionals understand how initiatives are being developed. The announcement doesn’t give any detail about what each state presented. Therefore, this could be seen as sharing experiences.
Why the Workshop Was Important?
There were several initiatives announced which all focus on important areas within schools. These include teacher development, digital awareness and mental health. NISHTHA gives teachers a clear pathway for professional development. Educational resources such as Bano DigiSmart can be used to have conversations around how to support learners in the modern world. Finally, the draft framework can be used to have discussions around how to support students.
This will depend on how the resources are distributed to schools, how they are used by teachers and how the draft policy moves forward. The 4 th November workshop has definitely put mental health and wellbeing on the agenda for schools. However, how valuable it will be in the long run depends on how the ideas are implemented.
FAQs
1. What did NCERT launch?
NCERT launched NISHTHA modules for teachers and the short film Bano DigiSmart. This was created in collaboration with UNESCO.
2. When and where was the school mental health workshop?
The one day workshop was held on the 4 th November 2026 in New Delhi by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
3. What are the NISHTHA modules for?
They are for teacher training. They will help teachers understand mental health and wellbeing in schools.
4. What does NISHTHA stand for?
NISHTHA stands for National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement.
5. What is Bano DigiSmart?
This is a short film created by NCERT in collaboration with UNESCO. It was launched at the 4 th November workshop.
6. What is the Draft National Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy for Schools?
This is a proposed policy to improve mental health and wellbeing in schools. Key points were presented.
Click Here for More Latest News