Lok Sabha Question No. 3488 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Sugar Board in Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3488 ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025

## Sugar Board in Schools

†3488. Shri Ashok Kumar Rawat:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  set  up  sugar  boards  in  schools  in view of the increasing number of diabetes in children in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if no, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to launch any campaign to prevent obesity and increasing sugar levels among children in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a)  to  (d):  As  per  CBSE  Circular  No.  Acad-26/2025,  all  CBSE-affiliated  schools  are mandated to install 'Sugar Boards' to raise awareness about the risks of excessive sugar intake and promote healthier food choices. These boards are to display key information such  as  recommended  sugar  intake,  sugar  content  in  commonly  consumed  foods,  and healthier alternatives. Schools are also required to conduct awareness seminars/workshops, and a total of 4373 seminars/workshops have  been  organized  so far, with 6,55,781 students , 47,386 teachers , and 61,696 parents participating.

To monitor compliance, schools must upload a report, including photographs of the 'Sugar Boards' and details of the awareness activities. So far 1527 schools uploaded their  reports.  This  monitoring  mechanism  helps  track  the  progress  of  the  initiative  and ensure effective implementation across all affiliated schools.

The Ministry of Education, Government of India has issued an advisory [D.O. No. 1-14/2024-PMP  (Health)  dated  15.03.2025]  to  all  schools  in  the  country,  including private schools, to encourage reduction of oil consumption in foods by 10% to address student obesity. To  raise awareness  about  benefits of reducing  oil, the advisory recommends  the  schools  to  conduct  special  classes,  invite  nutrition  experts,  and  hold quizzes  on  healthy  eating.  Activities  like  Eco-Club  discussions,  yoga,  and  exercise sessions promote well-being may be organised in schools. Teachers may guide parents on managing obesity, while students engage in low-oil cooking, recipe sharing, and health tracking  projects.  Emphasis  on  better  cooking  methods,  portion  control,  and  limiting processed foods encourages balanced diets.

To promote sustainable behavioural changes and reduction in excessive consumption  of  oil  and  sugar,  both  of  which  are  key  contributors  to  rising  rates  of obesity,  diabetes,  hypertension  and  other  lifestyle  related  disorders,  the  Ministry  of Education, Government of India has requested all the States / UTs [D.O. No. 17-21/2025Coord  dated  01.07.2025]  to  issue  directions  to  all  schools  under  their  jurisdiction  to Install oil and Sugar Boards displays, print health messages on all official stationery and promote healthy meals & physical activity.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has given due emphasis on the role of nutrition  in  the  holistic  development  of  children  and  pointed  out  that  nutrition  plays  a very significant role in learning, particularly in the early years.  Considering  the importance of this area, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023 (NCF-SE 2023) has given practical recommendations to include this in the curriculum of different subjects as well as in grades and also include Health and well-being as one of the aims of school education.

NCERT's new textbooks brought out as follow-up of the NCF-SE 2023 provides space to healthy food and balanced diet in the textbooks -

-  The World Around Us -Grade 3 includes a chapter on Food We Eat
-  Physical Education and Well-being-Grade 3 includes perspective of Healthy Diet as per Ayurveda.
-  Curiosity-Science Textbook-Grade 6 includes a chapter on Mindful eating which discusses -which kinds of foods make us 'Obese'.

Chapters on Foods in textbooks include malnutritional aspects of food including obesity.