The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) directed schools to promote healthy lifestyles among students and run a campaign by creating 'Oil Boards' in school premises. This campaign aims to inform schoolchildren about the harmful effects of excessive cooking oil consumption through food items, such as junk snacks. Earlier, CBSE issued a circular directing the creation of 'Sugar Boards' to inform schoolchildren about the effects of sugar if they consume it in excess.
The central board directs schools to install digital posters, paintings, or signage at school canteens, cafeterias, lobbies, and other premises to raise awareness about the harmful consumption of oil. School administration can also use leaflets with messages on healthy lifestyles and the benefits of cutting oil from daily diets. They show dos and don'ts on this topic.
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Promoting healthy meals and physical activity: Provide nutritious and healthier food options, including more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat choices. Limit the availability of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks. Encourage physical activity by promoting the use of stairs, organising short exercise breaks, and facilitating walking routes within the school.
CBSE added that a few prototype designs of such ‘Oil Boards’ are provided in Annexure-I, which schools may customise according to their specific requirements. Students can also be encouraged to create these boards as part of experiential learning activities. Relevant IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials—including posters and videos—are available on the official YouTube channel of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
“This is in continuation with our earlier Circular No: Acad-26/2025 Dated: 14.05.2025 on Sugar Boards. The data points out that there is a sharp rise in obesity among both adults and children. As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), over one in five adults in urban areas are overweight or obese. As per The Lancet GBD 2021 obesity forecasting study, published in 2025, the number of overweight and obese adults in India is projected to rise from 18 crores in 2021 to 44.9 crores by 2050, making it the country with the second-highest global burden. Prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted mostly by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity," the CBSE circular reads.