The Central Government has decided to include Basic Life Support (BLS) training in the school curriculum from class 9th onwards to address the rising death toll due to sudden cardiac arrest. This move comes after a Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal raised the issue in Parliament, last year, emphasizing the importance of training 

In a letter to Sant Seechewal, Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Education, Jayant Chaudhary informed that BLS training will now be made mandatory for students from class 9th. This will be included in the Physical Education and Fitness curriculum.

The Minister has also stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has convened a meeting to develop a comprehensive BLS training module.

Sant Seechewal raised this issue to highlight that approximately one million people die annually in the country due to sudden cardiac arrest.