‘This is not normal’: Parent flags 4.5 kg school bag for class 1 child

An X user flagged heavy weighing school bags after he found that his kid was carrying 4.5 kgs bag to the school.

Concern over the excessive weight of school bags being carried by young children led to a debate online after an X post by a parent went viral, triggering fresh debate on student safety and school accountability.

The issue came to light when Balu Gorade shared details about his Class 1 son’s school bag. Gorade said he decided to weigh the bag after noticing the strain on his child and was shocked by the numbers. According to him, while his son weighs 21 kg, the combined weight of the school bag and tiffin box was about 4.5 kg, far above recommended limits.

My son is in 1st standard and weighs 21 kg. He carries a 4.5 kg load (bag + tiffin), while the rule says it should be under 10% of body weight. I have raised this multiple times with the school. Have you ever checked your child's school bag weight? pic.twitter.com/DFbyNcBJ8s

— Balu Gorade (@BaluGorade) January 6, 2026

In his X post, Gorade pointed out that existing rules state a school bag should not exceed 10% of a child’s body weight. He said he had repeatedly raised the issue with the school but saw no meaningful change. Urging other parents to act, he asked if they had ever checked how much weight their children were carrying to school every day.

The post struck a chord with many parents, who shared similar experiences in the comments. One user said their Class 7 child, weighing under 40 kg, routinely carries a bag weighing more than 10 kg. The user expressed frustration, alleging that schools and authorities rarely face consequences despite clear violations of norms.

Another parent echoed the concern, saying their child’s bag often weighs between 18 and 20 kg. While the school administration had asked younger students to keep some books on campus, the parent noted that managing shared books and storage remained difficult. The user also recalled how schoolchildren in Maharashtra had once held a press conference over heavy school bags, only for the issue to fade without lasting reform.

What do NEP guidelines say? 

Under the National Education Policy 2020 and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, there is a strong push to reduce both physical and academic burden on students. The guidelines reiterate that school bags should not exceed 10% of a child’s body weight and encourage measures such as lighter textbooks, minimal homework for younger classes, flexible timetables, digital learning tools, and locker facilities in schools.