Two government officials aware of the development said the Center has commissioned a study by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to update the 1982 schoolbag standard. The revised norms will focus on balancing capacity, weight and comfort – key factors in preventing musculoskeletal strain in school children.
“The spine of teenagers is at a critical stage of development,” said Dr Rakesh Bagri, a pediatrician and neonatologist at Gangauri Hospital in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. “Carrying a heavy or poorly designed backpack can cause musculoskeletal and postural problems that can persist into adulthood.”
The 1982 standard, when most bags were made of canvas or rexine, no longer reflects current needs. Today’s school bags use lightweight synthetic fabrics, polyurethane coating and padded straps aimed at reducing pressure on the shoulders.
Queries emailed to the BIS spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.
“With the increasing diversity of designs, materials and performance requirements, it has become necessary to revise the existing Indian Standard school bag To reflect the current market realities,” a senior government official had said earlier.
“The review of standards will end the practice of selling heavy, fancy school bags. Adherence to the new norms will be mandatory,” the official said. “The amendment to IS 10228:1982 will cover all major types of school bags and define performance requirements that ensure durability, comfort and safety for students.”
The BIS project will collect technical data from manufacturers, testing laboratories and buyers across India and benchmark Indian practices against the standards of Japan, South Korea and Germany.
Aligning Indian standards with global standards will also enhance product quality export Capacity, said Ashim Sanyal, CEO of Consumer Voice.
“Updating the school bag standard will bring Indian products closer to international standards, open up export opportunities and also ensure the health and comfort of students at home,” he said. “This is a small but important step toward quality-driven design standards.”
students at risk
The Education Ministry’s School Bag Policy 2020 recommends that the weight of a school bag should not exceed 10% of a student’s body weight, yet compliance remains poor. Experts say many schools continue to assign excessive homework, requiring students to bring in all homework textbooks every day, and delays in starting the locker system – all contribute to bags being overloaded. Parents, too, often overlook ergonomics, prioritizing appearance or price over weight and comfort.
As per the policy, no school bags are recommended for pre-primary students. The weight of empty bags for classes 1 and 2 should be between 1.6 to 2.2 kg. For classes 3 to 5, it should be between 1.7 and 2.5 kg; For standards 6 and 7, from 2.3kg to 3kg; For classes 8 to 10, 2.5 to 4.5 kg; And for standards 11 and 12, between 3.5 and 5 kg.
A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) found that half of Indian schoolchildren surveyed carried bags heavier than 15% of their body weight.
According to the study, their ability to balance and walk comfortably declined sharply – students could only stand on one leg for 24 seconds with the backpack, compared to 37 seconds without it, while their reach distance was reduced from 30 cm to 24 cm.
The shorter reach distance means students carrying heavy backpacks can lean or stretch forward less, reducing flexibility and balance when maintaining posture.
Similarly, a study conducted in 2016 by pediatricians at DY Patil Medical College, Kolhapur, reported that 60.6% of children aged 11 to 14 years had backpack-related musculoskeletal problems, with girls having a higher incidence. Research found that bags weighing more than 14-15% of body weight led to a rapid increase in postural discomfort and back pain.
“We often see students struggling with big and heavy bags,” said a teacher from a leading school in Delhi. “Many children complain of shoulder and back pain, but parents usually pay more attention to looks rather than comfort when buying bags. If the new standards make lightweight and safe designs mandatory, it will really help protect children’s health.”
According to Cognitive Market Research, India’s school bags market is witnessing steady growth, supported by rising school enrolments, parents’ increasing focus on ergonomics and increasing popularity of branded and sustainable products.
According to estimates by Cognitive Market Research, the market is expected to grow from $1.34 billion in 2025 to $2.10 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.79%.
It said demand for lightweight, eco-friendly and ergonomically designed bags is growing rapidly as awareness of the health risks of heavy backpacks increases.
