Education Views | Insightful Perspectives and Analysis - Edinbox

Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the first serious attempt to decolonise the nation's education system. Arlekar added that the nation was progressing with a "colonial thought" until now.

"Our entire thought process was transformed due to the previous education system. We did not even notice when it came into our family lives. We are now trying to move out of that colonization," he said, and called on all to be a part of the revolution in the education sector.

The Governor, addressing the national education conference, 'Gyan Sabha', organised by RSS-affiliated Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas in Kochi, said that the Narendra Modi government's education policy was "different from what has been taught to us for all these years".

He said that India was 'Vishwa Guru' when it achieved independence and even today.

"But we could not claim it then. When we attained independence, it was political freedom only," he said, maintaining that Bharat could once more turn out to be the 'Vishwa Guru' if the new education policy is adopted.

"The question is, do you want to be part of the change," he said.

Speaking at the meeting, which consisted of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Mohan Bhagwat, Arlekar further stated that Viksit Bharat was not solely an economic philosophy but "a wholesome development of the entire society and not just a particular section of it.".

Tamil Nadu is experiencing a subtle but forceful transformation within the walls of schools. The state government's program of introducing U-shaped classrooms is being viewed by educational stalwarts as a game-changer in making learning inclusive, participative, and interactive for students. The new seating arrangement is not merely where the kids sit; it's about changing the manner in which they communicate, collaborate, and learn.

But consider implementing this design on a large scale in India's urban states across schools. It's expected to significantly cut down on classroom hierarchies, improve collaboration, and make the cities' schools more accessible to children who have more demanding academic backgrounds. Its large-scale implementation would change not only the way students are educated but how they interact, exchange ideas, and gain confidence in some of the nation's most stressful and diversified classrooms.

A REDEFINING DESIGN

“When you change the way kids sit together you change the way they connect, collaborate and learn,” says Ajay Singh, principal, The Scindia School. “Tamil Nadu’s U-shaped classrooms drive home the point forcefully that merely tweaking the organisation of classroom space in minimal ways can do much to render learning more open, inclusive and less soporific. Instead of looking at the backs of other students’ heads, students can look at each other’s faces, share ideas more easily, and be part of a community of learners. This structure leads to self-assurance, discourse and mutual trust and these are values as important as academic achievement."

In the bigger picture, he goes on, "Today we are living the Industry 5.0 era, yet the classrooms typically still quite resemble those of over a hundred years ago. It is time that we liberated design so as to make space for more engaging environments for students to reflect, invent, and problem-solve."

BREAKING AWAY FROM OLD HIERARCHIES

The innovation is a refreshing change from conventional adjectives "front-benchers" and "backbenchers." Dr. Manimekalai Mohan, Founder & Managing Trustee, SSVM Institutions, Coimbatore highlights the extent of this innovation.

"Tamil Nadu government's fresh bid to redefine classrooms is the most worthy. It is a humongous change towards collaborative learning and inclusivity. In the new arrangement, 'first benchers' and 'last benchers' are a relic of the past. There is emphasis on collaborative learning, where each child is observed, listened to, and encouraged to learn."

She also finds that the U-shape is specially suited to expressive subjects such as drama or dance, when all students gain from obstruction-free sight lines and more participation. 

EVERY CHILD IS A FRONT-BENCHER

U-shape planning is a favorite with Harish Sanduja, Director, Schools and IT, Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions.

"Classroom orientation has a direct influence on students' learning experience and outcomes. The didactic mode of teaching-oriented row seating orientation in classrooms previously was conducive to the culture of backbenchers or the falling-behind students. Tamil Nadu's attempt to acquaint the classroom with U-shaped seating orientation is a move towards better student participation."

"It's a way of making all the children front-benchers and ending the old pecking order where the backbenchers were the losers. All the children get equal attention from one teacher. The students can make eye contact with not only the teacher but also with their peers. The U-shape allows the students to feel part of their peer group and encourages higher participation and learning from peers. It's something that can be replicated."

A STEP TOWARDS PARTICIPATORY AND DIALOGIC LEARNING

Calling the transformation "quiet" and "revolutionary" in turn, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh's Principal, Dr. Alka Kapur finds the layout to be as pedagogical as it is.

"Middle school U-shaped classroom planning is perhaps the most conservative but revolutionary move towards participatory, inclusive, and dynamic pedagogy. The teacher is positioned at the center of the new structure so that all the students are equitably seen and heard. The structure places physical and symbolic exclusion of frontbenchers and backbenchers in the past by eliminating them."

She observes, nonetheless, that the success of all such reforms shall largely hinge on increased teacher education and infrastructure. "Redesigning seating cannot result in an improvement if the teachers are not prepared for facilitatory pedagogic practices. Besides, the attempt would be challenging to be fitted into small class-strengths in schools as space cannot be increased. Generally, this shift from rows to semicircles can enhance learning environment in Indian classrooms, and the shift from monologic teaching to dialogic learning will experience an enhancement in standards of quality, particularly in government schools."

MODEL FOR THE FUTURE

All of these voices are calling to us as one: the U-shaped classrooms of Tamil Nadu are so much more than a new seating arrangement; they are an effort at a culture of equity, participation, and innovation in schools. If used in city-states and at the state level, it would be a model for the entire country, whereby each child, regardless of where he or she is seated, will get an opportunity to be seen, to be heard, and to be able to learn

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 declares education-revolutionary changes in education in India with a vision to promote enhanced quality of education and skill upgradation at all levels. The parents, children, and educational community must understand in the next new academic year these revolutionizing changes and how they will impact school and higher education.

This policy sees an open and dynamic education system that is responsive to the Indian cultural heritage and sensitive to development needs. The following are seven major reforms suggested by NEP 2020 which the stakeholders need to know.

Flexible undergraduate programs with exit points

One of the key new provisions made by NEP 2020 is flexible entry and exit from undergraduate programmes. Therefore, the students can opt to leave after one year with a certificate, after two years with a diploma, and after three or four years with a bachelor's degree. Flexibility is being pursued in an effort to accommodate diverse student purposes and situations and to render education more participatory.

It also offers a drop-out elimination since it offers recognized qualifications at intervals throughout the course along the journey through the degree course. It ensures that those students who might be compelled to join the job market earlier or even take up other interests are officially accredited for the study which they have attained.

Learning begins at three years old with a new model

NEP 2020 converts schooling into four stages according to the development of a child: foundation (3–8 years), preparatory (8–11 years), middle (11–14 years), and secondary (14–18 years). The foundation stage consists of three years of pre-schooling (3 to 5 years) and Classes 1 and 2. It substitutes the earlier 10+2 structure with an organization that attempts to influence the mental and emotional development of the children.

Beginning regular school at three acknowledges the value of preschool schooling within school and introduces a point of focus for possible academic achievement. The new framework makes curriculums and learning processes relevant to all levels of development, making comprehensive progress possible.

Parakh national assessment surveys

NEP 2020 sets up the PARAKH centre to perform national assessments of reading, writing, and numeracy abilities of students. PARAKH tests Class 3, Class 6, and Class 9 levels of learning, which are finding ginormous gaps in core skills in most schools. Policy interventions and teachers learn from the report to tackle areas of weaknesses of strengths and enhance teaching standards.

PARAKH directly communicates with several boards of education to retake and schedule exams across the country. It operates to ensure educational quality through strict monitoring and ensures students acquire basic skills and learning.

Including vocational studies as part of regular schooling

The policy selects vocational training, i.e., functional skill training directly applicable to the profession. Relatively fewer young Indians are under vocational training at present than in countries like the USA, Germany, and South Korea. NEP 2020 recommends that vocational education should be encouraged to at least 50% of middle school and secondary school students by 2025.

This convergence will incorporate vocational subject matter into standard school curricula, equipping students for work and setting the stage for further and higher education. It is an answer to the demands of an economy needing skilled staff and promoting employability at an early stage.

Optional subjects on Indian systems of knowledge

NEP 2020 makes it mandatory to introduce an optional subject of Indian Knowledge Systems among school students. It consists of a broad array of topics that existed from time immemorial, including the contribution in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, yoga, architecture, and politics. The objective is to acquaint the students with India's rich intellectual heritage on one hand and conventional courses on the other hand.

This course will be incorporated in all the disciplines in order to give an equal proportion of India's cultural and scientific heritage. This requires appreciation of past knowledge and stimulus generation, and creative thought is encouraged.

Integrated four-year degree required for teachers

For improving the quality of education, NEP 2020 mandates future teachers to undergo an integrated Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) for three years. The program includes training in teaching and teaching a subject like history, science, maths, or arts. The aim is to develop quality teachers who will provide quality education.

The law will be implemented by 2030 that will provide all the teachers with pedagogic training, as well as specialized subject expertise. The reform will professionlaise the teaching to make it a professional course so that it improves the quality of the education in all the schools of the country.

The middle class in India has historically been the bedrock of the nation’s economic development and the social dimension. Over the past 20 years, the middle class has transformed significantly. This transformation is more than just a change in the size of the middle class, it is in the middle class’s mindset, consumption patterns, cultural lens, and self-representation. The middle-class existence of being thrifty, modest, obsessive about education and job security and small aspirations is being replaced by a new assertive, digital-savvy, and aspirational generation.

As India looks forward in 2025, the middle class is no longer just a passive consumer of goods and culture. It is a maker, influencer, and voice in the development of a modern, globally connected Indian narrative.

Early Aspect and Primitive Formulation

India's middle class has been a significant force for economic, social, and cultural change. Historically it is focused on education, savings, and modest consumption, but over the past twenty years, there has been a drastic change. The new middle class is not only consuming narratives, trends, and demands from the mainstream, but they are also creating them. This change is a direct result of our transition into a liberalised market economy, the digital revolution, and aspirational consumerism, culminating in the emergence of a new Indian middle class. In the digitized post pandemic world of 2025, this middle class is not as simple as a single demographic group, it is therefore multi -ple, fragmented, vocal, hyperconnected, and influenced by various aspects of society such as social media, influencers and globalisation. 

Defining the New Middle Class

While estimates also vary, India’s middle class is expected to include over 700 million people by the year 2030. But it's not a single, uniform group. Today’s middle class encompasses lower-middle, middle-middle, and upper middle-income groups — all of which differ in consumption habits, priorities, and views of the world. 

The ‘old middle class’ was characterized by job security, property ownership, and respectability. The ‘new middle class’ is characterized by risk, entrepreneurialism, global experiences, and digital literacy. It includes the gig worker who delivers on the weekend, the content creator in a Tier-2 city with millions of online followers, and the professional who invests in cryptocurrencies and ESG funds. 

This segment is not uniform. It includes families with important variations in lifestyle, exposure, and desires. They were bound together by a mutual desire toward upward mobility, improvement of self, visibility, and better opportunities for their children.

Aspirations That Go Beyond Survival

Middle-class aspirations have focused on job security, home ownership, and a good education for children in the past. The nature of aspirations have changed to include broader, more individual, and increasingly defined by exposure to global culture and digital connectivity.

One of the key characteristics of the new Indian middle class is aspirational consumption. This new middle class seeks to consume not to exist (in the survival sense) but to represent its identity, status, and way of life.

1.Luxury as Experience

Today’s middle class sees luxury as all of us deserving it, whereas luxury was simply seen as indulgence to be had by previous generations. As an example today’s middle class enjoys ‘weekend stays in boutique resorts’ and indulges in ‘imported skincare products’ - this is now completely normalised.

Modern middle-class Indians use their lifestyle choices to showcase personal preference and social status. From H&M and Zara shopping, yoga retreats, and skincare regimens promoted on Instagram and ergonomic home-office furniture— ‘lifestyle became aspirational.’

2.Digital Connectivity to Global Consumption

Now, not only are global brands just a click away but more importantly, they connect to so much more than a brand. The rise of ‘D2C (direct-to-consumer) brands’,social commerce platforms, and “BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later)”has enabled everyone to access what was an elite offering.

3.The Home as a Status Symbol

Now Post-COVID, there is a renewed emphasis on the home, not just as shelter but as a choice to represent taste and values. Smart TVs, minimalist themes, fitness equipment, and modular kitchens symbolize “it’s made it.”

4.Investing in Personally Developing Yourself

The new middle class is spending a large amount of time and money on their self-improvement, whether that be taking online upskilling courses on sites like Coursera and Unacademy, engaging in international certifications and fitness regimes!

5.Travel and Global Exposure

Travel is now for many, a need not a want—an outlet for exploring, social status, and education. Budget airline travel, travel-by-credit, and travel influencers now arms this demographic with more access to subsidized holidays abroad.

The New Cultural Builders

One characteristic of the emerging Indian middle class is their ‘intense engagement with influencers and digital content.’ Influencers emerge as more authentic, relatable figures than Bollywood superstars or cricket celebrities, especially if they come from a smaller town or vernacular culture.

1.Influencers as Aspirational Reflections

Influencers are reflections of the middle class, as well as shapers of their values and aspirations. They offer ‘practical tips,’’product recommendations’, and ‘lifestyle inspiration’ on topics ranging from fashion and parenting to food and finance—with a middle class lens.

Someone like Komal Pandey, Ranveer Allahbadia and Kusha Kapila are already household names. There are even regional influencers like those from Bhopal, Nagpur, Coimbatore who are coming of age as significant voices in beginning to express the diversity that is Bharat.

 2.Digital Influence on Buying Choices

Influencers directly influence buying decisions, on everything from smartphones and sarees to home appliances and mutual funds. Research also shows that there is a growing segment of the Indian consumer who trusts "influencer" reviews more than conventional advertisements.

3.Rise of Finfluencers and Edfluencers

Specialized influencers focusing on finance and education are making their mark. Finfluencers and edfluencers play an increasingly important role in unlocking mysteries surrounding tax filings for income, stock investments, personal budgets, and educational opportunities for the ‘middle class's hunger for financial literacy and financial mobility’.

 4.Influencers as Career Models

Today, being an influencer is recognised as a legit occupation. Young and growing middle-class Indians are pursuing content creation as a full-time career thanks to their families encouraging them to pursue this path. Barriers to creating content are lower than ever and the digital audience is exponentially larger than any other time in history.

Gender and the Middle Class: A New Female Voice

The digital landscape has amplified the voices of middle-class women. While many are still dealing with the inherent pressure of marriage and family expectations, the internet has created avenues for economic independence and creative expression.

With platforms like YouTube and Instagram, women are able to build home-run businesses or become influencers, or earn income through teaching, coaching, and consulting positions. Mom influencers, DIY crafters, regional chefs, and educational mentors are acquiring more and more followers while promoting awareness and discourse around gender and family and empowerment.

Middle-Class Women's Voices Are Getting Louder as Their Roles Are Changing and Defining

Women in this new middle class are changing roles. As small business owners, independent travellers, freelancers of various types, or content creators — they are different. 

The rise of social media has been powerful for women ever increasingly because "you can now, broadcast what you are" and "find your own communities", as well as, "to push against patriarchy". The digital and social spaces free them of some expectations, but alongside other expectational dualisms.

The Importance of Education and English

Even with the vernacular push, English continues to be an important aspiration. English proficiency continues to provide a sign of social mobility and one measurable aspect of employability. Also, we are more aware that bilingual fluency is more useful, given India's complex digital milieu.

EdTech platforms are also acknowledging this hybridity, creating courses in English and regional languages for first-time learners and middle-class families wanting to move up.

Brands and Media: Engaging with the New Middle India

In recognition of these shifts, brands are actively targeting the middle class through regional campaigns, influencer partnerships, and storytelling that relates to middle-class realities.

The media is changing too. OTT shows focus on middle-class issues and aspirations (e.g. Gullak, Panchayat, TVF’s Yeh Meri Family) and resonate with audiences of all income groups.

Conclusion

The new cohort of middle class Indians is a transformational force. They are ambitious, expressive, digitally sophisticated and culturally sure... they are shaping markets, changing media narratives, and demanding representation that reflects their world view. They are no longer a silent or invisible majority, this middle class is now vocal, visible, and vital in India's 21st Century journey.

As the country grows economically and digitally, the ambitions, anxieties and accomplishments of this demographic will determine the path India will take... culturally and politically. Before understanding modern India, you must understand its middle class... not as a static income demographic, but as a dynamic, story-weaving, dream-chasing collective that is actively shaping the country.

"Being middle class means you have enough to dream but not enough to stop trying."

BY - ANANYA AWASTHI

Where climate change, sustainability, and ethical consumption are in the spotlight internationally, brands have quickly jumped on the “green” bandwagon. The Indian market is now full of brands marketing their goods as eco-friendly, whether that be packaging that is recyclable, or goods branded as carbon neutral. But when looking more deeply at these claims, we find that most of the eco-friendly claims made by brands are at best superficial, and at worst largely false. The trend toward “greenwashing” or misleading consumers with false or exaggerated environmental claims is increasing.

As more Indian consumers are turning toward being conscious consumers, it is crucial to differentiate between brands that are genuinely creating sustainable effects, and those that are purely cashing in on the green wave. So, how much of what Indian brands describe in the name of sustainability is real?

 Understanding Greenwashing

Many people are unaware that what they perceive to be green practices may actually be examples of green washing which means they are just marketing tactics used to depict the company as environmentally concerned while not according to sustainable practices. Greenwashing is a combination of the word green which can be defined as environmentalism and the word whitewashing which conveys covering up wrong doing and shows that this is an inherently deceptive practice to represent this type of branding.

Greenwashing is basically marketing a product or service as environmentally friendly but it needs to be based on true, reliable information and not just a claim. Greenwashing involves embellishment, deception, and even lies? The term was coined during the 1980s but it's more important now than it ever has been due to the sustainability movement of the 21st century.

Examples of Greenwashing;

1.) Unsubstantiated or vague claims: Examples are terms like "eco-friendly" and "natural" and if there are no certifications or no groups defined those terms.

2.) Hidden trade-off: A company may present a small(ish) environmentally friendly initiative, like conducting a recycling program, but doesn't account for their overall organizational practice that harms society/contributes to more environmental harm.

3.) Irrelevant claims: A company may claim their product is "CFC-free" when CFCs are banned by law.

4.) Misleading images: Using green color, leaves, and images of earth and nature in general to signify sustainability?

Greenwashing is Rising in Indian Markets

The consumer landscape in India is shifting as Millennials and Gen-Z consumers utilize their wallets to make decisions with climate consciousness. A 2023 Nielsen India survey, found that 72% of urban Indian shoppers will pay more for sustainably sourced products over alternatives. This behavior change in consumer engagement has led to an increase in campaigns centered around sustainability.

While many brands are genuinely choosing to become more green, too many are choosing to use sustainability as a marketing strategy so long as it is just a little green, or they approved the trendy concept without committing sustainability long-term. The Indian market is swimming in the vestiges of the need for sustainability; the buzz of green “organic,” “biodegradable,” “best living” “cruelty free,” “carbon neutral”, etc., without true and verifiable meaning anymore. 

Prominent Examples of Greenwashing in India

1. FMCG Companies and So-Called Sustainability

Some of the biggest Indian fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are rolling out "green" or "sustainable" versions of their products — herbal soaps, organic shampoos, and eco-friendly detergents. Notably, product ingredient labels still often contain synthetic chemicals, artificial preservatives, and excessive plastic packaging.

For example, one popular soap brand launched a campaign about their "natural" bar. It wasn't until consumers examined the ingredients that they discovered parabens and sulfates (two ingredients themselves and the methods that create them are harmful both to the skin and the environment).

    2.Textiles and the Fashion Sector

There are Indian fashion brands producing “sustainable fashion” lines (for example “organic cotton” or “recycled fabric”). Sustainability is not just about the raw materials, it is about the labor we are utilizing, and in addition it can be related to the water we are using, the chemicals in the dyes and the carbon footprint. In some instances, even if just a fraction of a company's line is "sustainable," the company is telling consumers that the entire label is sustainable.

   3.Claims of Plastics

There are a number of beverage and food companies that have touted recyclable or biodegradable packaging. The problem is, there is often no infrastructure to collect or recycle those materials, so the packaging may end up being the worst choice in practice. If even some of the time MLP (multi layered plastic) is used, it can be nearly impossible to segregate packaging and recycle for the intended benefit.

Urban vs Rural Greenwashing

Although greenwashing may be more notorious and more evident in urban, premium-branded environments, the ripple effects of greenwashing can reach into rural India. Some agricultural input brands, for example, have been caught falsely marketing chemical fertilizers as "bio-enhanced" or "eco-safe," resulting in improper fertilization and ecological harm.

Greenwashing can be attributed to poor oversight and less consumer education and digital excess in rural spaces, where misleading advertisements often go unchecked. Without some sort of government intervention, greenwashing becomes even more pernicious.

GLOBAL CONTEXT: IS INDIA ALONE?

Greenwashing is a worldwide problem; all around the world, from European fast fashion retailers to US corporate giants, there is no shortage of deceiving green marketing practices. In India, this issue is even more complicated due to:

- Not enough enforcement mechanisms.

- Less awareness for tier-2 and tier-3 consumers.

- Minimal mainstream media attention on business sustainability practices.

Nonetheless, India is headed in a progressive direction — 2024 draft guidelines are one of Asia's first direct policy responses to greenwashing, paving the way for even more regulatory measures.

Recommendations for Brands and Policymakers

1. Brands:

 Use third parties for verification of sustainability.

 Allocate money toward real eco-innovation, not green-washing.

 Train marketing personnel on the ethics of environmentalism.

 Ensure that environmental data are available publicly, and can be verified.

    2.Policymakers:

 Force certification for high-impact products.

 Increase the monetary and reputational penalties for false claims.

 Create a green claims tribunal to get grievances addressed quickly nationally.

 Develop sector specific green guidelines with industry bodies.

Green or Greenwashed?

In today's sustainability-driven market, brands in India are being practical to appear green. While some are taking real actions toward responsible business, many simply want to make it look like they're doing so to stay relevant or profitable.

The real question, however, is how we can differentiate between midsize cosmetic changes and actual reproductive sustainability. And for consumers, regulation, and businesses all, the way forward must be based on transparency, authenticity, and accountability.

Greenwashing may result in some short term profits, but long-term greenwashing can do greater damage than good because it harms trust, stunts progress and jeopardizes whatever cause it aims to advance. As India continues on its journey toward a sustainable future, it has time to ponder a moral question: Is it enough to look green or is it time to be green?

The fallacy of sustainability: consequences of greenwashing 

1. Loss of Trust

Greenwashing erodes brand trust and consumer confidence. When a greenwasher is unmasked, consumers may become suspicious of even the real thing, further decreasing the efficacy of any sustainable development efforts.

2. Environmental harm

Greenwashing prevents real change from happening. Greenwashing bolsters corporate image at the expense of real impact reduction. Pollution, plastic waste, and greenhouse gas emissions go unchecked.

3. Unfair Competition

Typically, brands pursuing real sustainability initiatives spend money on people, products, and places. Brands that greenwash, or mislead, can mimic that appeal without committing the money. This compromises the environment, and it is unfair competition.

4. Consumer Disillusionment

If these consumers feel duped after a green promise falls flat, it can foster apathy or even resistance if they had considered adopting some sustainable behavior. It has the potential to impact the larger environmental movement and stall advances."

Beyond Appearance: conclusion 

In a world with little time to waste on climate change, the price of greenwashing is now no longer merely reputational—it can be environmental, economic and moral too. For Indian brands, this is a critical moment. What shifts the paradigm is the opportunity to choose between performative sustainability — and genuine environmental responsibility.

As the level of awareness increases and the implementation of regulations becomes greater, the disparity between the company’s image and worth will be hard to obscure. Brands in the future will not belong to those that say they are green, they will belong to those that demonstrate sustainability.

In the end,green should not be a color of convenience—it needs to be a point of responsibility to the planet, to the people, and to the future.

BY-ANANYA AWASTHI

UNESCO, in partnership with CBSE and NCERT, organized the eleventh iteration of the capacity-building workshop under the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) in New Delhi this week to move forward with the initiative to increase a network of master trainers responsible for executing the SHWP in 30,000 CBSE-aligned schools in an effort to reach nearly 15 million adolescent students.

In June and July 2025, over 290 school leaders, principals, and educators from 22 states and 5 union territories such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and others attended the trainings.

The release stated that Anandrao V Patil, IAS, Additional Secretary, DoSEL, Ministry of Education, stressed mental health, gender equality and inclusive education to fulfill the holistic vision of NEP 2020. "You are changemakers. Never forget that," he asserted, reiterating the role of education in building responsible and compassionate citizens.

As per the release, NCERT Director Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani appreciated the joint efforts of CBSE, UNESCO, and NCERT in conducting the workshop. While referring to the need to understand adolescents more intensely, Prof Dinesh Prasad Saklani highlighted that teachers might react differently when issues underlying in a student's family do not come to their notice. He added that this is why the training is so important, as it enables educators to identify obstacles and move towards realisable targets.

"Health and education are not competing objectives; they are linked pillars of equity, dignity, and opportunity. Each wellness session, each teacher trained, each child heard, it's a step toward systems that place learners at the centre," said Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO South Asia Regional Office.

With NCERT's guidance and UNESCO's assistance, a 24-hour curriculum, training modules, and facilitator guides have been created to support implementation of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP). To complement these materials, the two organizations have also produced animated videos and a comic book focused on the program's 11 essential themes—like emotional well-being, gender equality, reproductive health, mental wellness, and proper internet use. All content is translated into English, Hindi, and nine regional Indian languages.

Unveiled in February 2020 under the Government of India's Ayushman Bharat programme, SHWP encourages a multi-faceted, preventive, and proactive student health promotion through education. NCERT has organized eleven five-day workshops since August 2022, training 970 Master Trainers who now spearhead programme implementation in schools and assist in training others through CBSE's Centres of Excellence.

So far, over 40,000 teachers have been trained through 754 capacity-building programmes, representing an important step toward mainstreaming wellness education nationwide.