More than 15 lakh children joined a 30-minute statewide Read-a-Thon, bringing schools, teachers, government officials and communities together under Pathan Abhiyan 2026 in an effort to make reading a habit rather than a one-day exercise.

15 Lakh Children Read Together

Jharkhand’s Education Department and Jharkhand Education Project Council organised the statewide Read-a-Thon, with 15,06,249 children across 17,958 schools taking part in the collective reading session.

Held from 11 am to 11.30 am, the initiative drew on the “Drop Everything and Read” concept, encouraging participants to pause their routine and devote uninterrupted time to reading.

A Wider Circle of Participation

The campaign extended beyond classrooms. 41,171 teachers, 7,114 government officials and 33,306 community members participated, bringing families, educators, administrators and communities into a shared effort to strengthen reading habits.

State Project Director of the Jharkhand Education Project Council Shashi Ranjan joined students at a school in Dhurwa, Ranchi, and urged children to make reading a regular part of their lives. Parents, teachers and community members were also encouraged to create environments where children could read consistently.

Building on an Earlier Milestone

The 2026 campaign builds on last year’s Read-a-Thon, which drew more than seven lakh children and received recognition in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

Beyond 30 Minutes

The larger purpose of Pathan Abhiyan lies beyond the collective half-hour: nurturing children who read, imagine, express and learn with greater confidence. The real measure of the initiative will therefore emerge in the days ahead—when the statewide pause becomes an everyday reading habit, and participation translates into a stronger culture of reading across Jharkhand.

Source: https://www.drishtiias.com/state-pcs-current-affairs/jharkhand-organises-statewide-read-a-thon-under-pathan-abhiyan-2026