The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, August 5, 2026: The Ministry of Education has highlighted a range of initiatives aimed at promoting hygiene, healthy lifestyles, physical fitness and environmental awareness among school children across the country.
The Ministry said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 places emphasis on the holistic development of students, including health, wellness and environmental consciousness. Since education is a subject under the Concurrent List, school education is largely administered by respective State Governments and Union Territory administrations.
Several central schemes are being implemented to strengthen health and hygiene education in schools, including Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, School Health and Wellness Programme, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram and Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE.
Under the PM POSHAN scheme, around 10.23 crore students studying in Bal Vatika and Classes I to VIII across nearly 10.33 lakh government and government-aided schools are provided hot cooked nutritious meals on school days. The programme also promotes awareness about balanced diets, junk food, nutrition, sanitation, handwashing and the importance of School Nutrition Gardens.
The Ministry said environmental awareness is being strengthened through Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE, established with support under Samagra Shiksha. Students take part in activities such as plantation drives, nature walks and cleanliness campaigns to develop environment-friendly habits.
Physical education and sports have also been integrated into school education under NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework. The government is promoting sports, fitness and yoga through Samagra Shiksha, while NCERT has introduced dedicated textbooks on sports and physical education for different stages of schooling.
These include Khel–Yoga for Grades III-V, Khel Yatra for Grades VI-VIII and Khel–Praveen for Grade IX. The books cover physical education, yoga and healthy living in an age-appropriate manner.
National initiatives such as the Fit India Movement, International Day of Yoga, National Yoga Olympiad, Khelo India programmes and National Sports Day are also being used to encourage active lifestyles among students. The CBSE Health and Physical Education programme has made sports a compulsory component across classes.
The School Health and Wellness Programme, jointly implemented by the Ministries of Education and Health and Family Welfare since 2020, further supports health awareness in schools. Under the programme, two teachers from each school are trained as Health and Wellness Ambassadors and conduct sessions covering topics such as nutrition, sanitation, healthy lifestyles and adolescent health.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is also implementing the Environment Education Programme (EEP) to supplement formal environmental education. Activities include sustainability workshops, zero-waste initiatives, cleanliness drives, waste segregation, vermicomposting, kitchen and herbal gardens, nature camps, yoga and awareness campaigns.
The government said these initiatives are aimed at combining classroom learning with practical experiences so that children develop healthier lifestyles and greater responsibility towards the environment.
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