New Delhi: On a typical day in the city, it is often children who voice the most unsettling questions. Why can’t we see the sun clearly? Why does the air feel heavy to breathe? Their questions, simple yet piercing, reflect a reality that adults have gradually learned to overlook. It is this instinctive curiosity, coupled with a growing sense of urgency, that Delhi govt is seeking to harness through a year-long environmental awareness campaign.All schools in Delhi have been instructed to implement the programme during the 2026-27 academic session, not just to inform students about pollution but also to involve them in addressing it, officials said.Under the plan, schools must conduct monthly activities on themes, such as plastic waste, air pollution, water conservation, dust control and noise pollution. Institutions have also been directed to submit monthly action reports, along with photographs, documenting the activities.According to officials, the idea is to move beyond textbook learning. “Students must become participants in change, not just observers,” an official said, adding that schools are expected to integrate environmental responsibility into everyday behaviour.The circular, issued by Directorate of Education’s science branch, mandates participation from govt, aided and private schools alike. It outlines a structured calendar of activities spread across the academic year, beginning with campaigns against single-use plastic and culminating in focused drives on air and noise pollution during winter.Schools have been asked to take practical steps within campuses as well. These include setting up separate bins for wet and dry waste, promoting reuse of materials, reducing energy consumption and discouraging practices such as littering and burning waste. Morning assemblies, too, are expected to carry environmental messages, reinforcing awareness on a daily basis.The programme combines awareness with engagement. Students will participate in poster-making, essay-writing, debates, quizzes and streetplays, alongside workshops on waste management and plantation drives. Key environmental days, such as Earth Day, World Environment Day and Ozone Day, will be observed to deepen understanding of global challenges.The initiative also places emphasis on community participation, urging schools to extend these efforts beyond campus boundaries. Students are encouraged to carry these practices into their homes and neighbourhoods, whether by discouraging the use of single-use plastics, promoting waste segregation or spreading awareness about water and energy conservation. Officials noted that such ripple effects were critical in a city where environmental challenges were deeply linked to everyday behaviour.Specific seasonal concerns have been built into the plan. For instance, anti-firecracker campaigns and awareness on reducing open burning are scheduled ahead of winter, when air quality typically worsens. Similarly, activities like water sprinkling to control dust and plantation drives are aligned with local needs.The emphasis on issues like dust pollution from construction, safe disposal of chemicals and reduction of firecrackers reflects Delhi’s specific environmental concerns.According to officials, by linking awareness with action and accountability through regular reporting, govt hopes to create a generation that is equipped to respond to environmental problems.