Prerana completes 1st cycle with nationwide participation of students, promoting value-based experiential learning

1. At a Glance

Prerana is a week-long residential experiential learning program of the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, run at the Vernacular School (est. 1888), Vadnagar, Gujarat — the school where PM Modi began his education [S1][S2].
Selects 20 students (10 boys + 10 girls) per week from Class IX–XII drawn from across India, rooted in 9 value-based themes with curriculum by IIT Gandhinagar [S1][S2].
Aligns with NEP 2020's push for value-based, experiential, holistic education and "Indian ethos" learning.

On 12 January 2026, PIB announced completion of the 1st cycle of Prerana with nationwide student participation; 2nd cycle scheduled to commence April 2026 [S1].
Cycle 1 ran from 15 January 2024 at the Prerana Sankul, Vadnagar [S1].

Dec 2023: Ministry of Education launched the PRERANA program [S2].
15 January 2024: First batch commenced at the historic Vernacular School, Vadnagar [S1].
2024: First Alumni Meet of Prerana addressed by Secretary (DoSEL) Shri Sanjay Kumar [S3]; Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan interacted with Prerana alumni and PM SHRI students [S4].
Jan 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Archaeological Experiential Museum, Prerna Complex and Vadnagar Sports Complex at Vadnagar [S5].
2025: PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya Sabarmati students visited Prerana School & Archaeological Museum under PM SHRI Exposure Visit Programme [S6].
Jan 2026: Cycle 1 declared complete [S1].

Implementing Ministry: Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education [S1].
Venue: Vernacular School, Vadnagar, Mehsana district, Gujarat (est. 1888) — within Prerana Sankul complex [S1].
Eligibility: Selected students of Class IX–XII [S2].
Batch size: 20 students/week (10 boys + 10 girls) [S2].
Duration: Week-long residential [S2].
Curriculum partner: IIT Gandhinagar [S2].
9 value-based themes (paired) [S2]: 1. Swabhiman & Vinay (Pride & Humility) 2. Shaurya & Sahas (Valour & Courage) 3. Parishram & Samarpan (Diligence & Dedication) 4. Karuna & Sewa (Compassion & Service) 5. Vividhta & Ekta (Diversity & Unity) 6. Satyanishtha & Shuchita (Integrity & Purity) 7. Navachar & Jigyasa (Innovation & Curiosity) 8. Shraddha & Vishwas (Faith & Trust) 9. Swatantrata & Kartavya (Freedom & Duty)
Activities: yoga, mindfulness, meditation, thematic sessions, hands-on learning, heritage-site visits, Mission LiFE creative activities, inspirational film screenings [S2].

Educational / NEP linkage: Operationalises NEP 2020 pillars of experiential learning, value education, Indian Knowledge Systems; complements PM SHRI Schools ecosystem (used as exposure-visit destination) [S6].
Cultural-Historical: Leverages Vadnagar — one of India's oldest continuously inhabited cities, an ASI excavation site — and a 19th-century vernacular school, fusing heritage with pedagogy [S1][S5].
Administrative: Centrally curated selection (nationwide pool, 20/week) requires coordination with State Education Departments and PM SHRI network; curriculum outsourced to a technical institute (IIT-GN) — a model of MoE-IIT pedagogical collaboration [S2].
Social/Equity: Gender parity built-in (10 boys + 10 girls); pan-India selection aims to widen access beyond metros [S2].
Ethical/Governance (GS-IV): Explicit curricular focus on civic virtues — integrity, duty, service, compassion — mirroring foundational values for public life.

Jan 2025: Inauguration of Archaeological Experiential Museum + Prerna Complex + Sports Complex, Vadnagar by HM Amit Shah [S5].
2025: PM SHRI exposure visits routed through Prerana School & Vadnagar Museum [S6].
12 Jan 2026: PIB confirms completion of Cycle 1 [S1].
April 2026: Cycle 2 scheduled to commence [S1].

Prerana is run by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (NOT Ministry of Culture/MoEFCC) [S1].
Hosted at the Vernacular School, Vadnagar, Gujarat, established in 1888 [S1].
Launched on 15 January 2024; Cycle 1 completed by Jan 2026 [S1].
Curriculum designed by IIT Gandhinagar [S2].
9 paired value themes structure the curriculum [S2].
Eligibility: Class IX–XII; batch of 20 (10 + 10) per week [S2].
Vadnagar's Archaeological Experiential Museum inaugurated by HM Amit Shah (2025) [S5].
Used as a destination under the PM SHRI Exposure Visit Programme [S6].
Includes Mission LiFE creative activities in evening schedule [S2].
2nd cycle: April 2026 [S1].

GS Paper II — Government policies and interventions for development in Social sectors (Education).
GS Paper I — Indian Culture / salient aspects of heritage (Vadnagar archaeology link).
GS Paper IV (Ethics) — Values, role of family/society/educational institutions in inculcating values.
Plausible stems: 1. "Experiential and value-based learning is the cornerstone of NEP 2020. Discuss how initiatives like Prerana operationalise this vision." (GS-II) 2. "Examine the role of educational institutions in shaping ethical foundations of citizens, with reference to recent value-education initiatives." (GS-IV) 3. "Discuss how heritage sites can be integrated into India's school education system for holistic learning." (GS-I/II)

NEP 2020 — parent policy framework for experiential learning.
PM SHRI Schools — sister scheme; exposure visits to Prerana [S6].
Vadnagar archaeology / ASI excavations — heritage context [S5].
Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) — embedded in Prerana activities [S2].
NIPUN Bharat & FLN Mission — foundational schooling reforms.
Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division, MoE — value-based curricular thrust.
Kala Utsav / Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat — value/cultural school programs.
DIKSHA / PM e-Vidya — tech-enabled school education complements.

Confusing Prerana (MoE school program) with PRERANA scheme of Ministry of WCD (anti-trafficking) — different ministries, different mandates.
Wrongly attributing curriculum design to NCERT — it is IIT Gandhinagar [S2].
Mixing up venues: it is the Vernacular School (1888), Vadnagar, not a new-build campus [S1].
Stating it is open to all students — it is a selective, 20-students/week residential program for Class IX–XII [S2].
Conflating Prerana Sankul with the Archaeological Experiential Museum — adjacent but distinct facilities at Vadnagar [S5].

[S1] Prerana completes 1st cycle… — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2214206 — (tier 1)
[S2] Ministry of Education launches PRERANA program — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1993086 — (tier 1)
[S3] Sanjay Kumar addresses First Alumni meet of Prerana — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2017791 — (tier 1)
[S4] Dharmendra Pradhan interacts with PM SHRI students & Prerana alumni — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2045738 — (tier 1)
[S5] Amit Shah inaugurates Archaeological Experiential Museum, Prerna Complex, Vadnagar — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2093525 — (tier 1)
[S6] PM SHRI KV Sabarmati students visit Prerana School, Vadnagar — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2198486 — (tier 1)