The younger generation, which forms the backbone of India’s future, must be equipped not only with academic knowledge but also with a strong moral compass rooted in India’s cultural ethos, said Bharat Lal, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Speaking at THE WEEK Education Conclave 2025, he emphasised the urgent need to integrate ethics and values into the Indian education system, and added that empathy, compassion, and respect must be taught from an early age.
“All religions have taught us acceptance, and this is at the core of Indian values and ethos,” Lal said. These values, he noted, are what make India unique as a civilisation. “The challenge today is to pass these values to the younger generation so that they evolve into responsible, ethical, and compassionate citizens.”
He urged educational institutions to go beyond traditional academic goals and focus on holistic development. “Education should not only be for job creation but also for tackling life’s challenges,” Lal said. He suggested the introduction of a zero period in schools dedicated exclusively to inculcating values, life skills, and mental well-being.
“Mental health issues need to be addressed through our Indian value system,” he added, pointing out that students must learn teamwork, cooperation, and self-reflection.
Lal underscored the importance of strong value systems in nurturing ethical leadership. “Leadership gives us strength, but ethical leadership must be the backbone if we are to excel as a society,” he said. Citing the book Management by Values authored by IIM Kolkata, he recommended it as a must-read for students, as it emphasises management approaches anchored in ethics.
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He also noted that many young people today are searching for deeper meaning in life beyond money or position. “They are looking for something else – a sense of purpose. This is what India has always given to those who seek it,” Lal remarked.
He linked this quest for purpose to India’s long tradition of yoga, meditation, and intellectual inquiry. By cultivating inner strength through such practices, students can better handle the pressures of modern life.
The NHRC secretary general also stressed the importance of teaching constitutional morality and fraternity as guiding principles. “We must instill respect, honesty, trust, and justice in our students. These qualities will help them become good citizens and contribute to society in meaningful ways,” he said. He further emphasised the need to include marginalised groups like transgender persons in mainstream life with dignity and equal opportunities.
Lal said he believes that life skills, anchored in values, are crucial to curbing the rising mental health challenges among youth. “It is the team effort and collective support that will truly help,” he said, calling for educators and institutions to make values-based education a central priority.
He highlighted India’s global reputation for producing citizens who are admired for their integrity and cultural grounding. “Our civilisation has evolved over millennia. It is our moral duty to transfer this legacy to the younger generation,” Lal said.
By embedding ethics, values, and compassion into the curriculum, he said, India can create a generation capable of leading with empathy and purpose.