NEW DELHI: India may be on the verge of a significant shift in the way schools teach children about health, safety and relationships, with the Centre informing the Supreme Court that comprehensive sex education will soon be introduced in schools and colleges across the country. The move comes nearly two years after the apex court called for a structured national programme to improve awareness on sexuality, reproductive health and child sexual abuse.
The government’s submission marks one of the strongest indications yet that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) could become part of the formal curriculum, replacing the patchwork approach that has existed across states for years.
The issue stems from a landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered in September 2024 while dealing with a case related to child sexual abuse material. In that judgment, the court stressed that education, not silence, was one of the most effective ways to protect children.
The bench observed that “sex education is not a western concept incompatible with Indian societal values.” It noted that misconceptions surrounding sexuality education had led several states to oppose or ban such programmes despite their importance.
The Supreme Court had recommended that the Union government constitute an expert committee to develop a comprehensive programme on health and sex education while also creating awareness about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act among children from an early age. It said that positive sex education promotes healthy attitudes towards sexuality and relationships and helps counter distorted perceptions, including those arising from exposure to child sexual abuse material.
In May 2025, the court reiterated its concerns while hearing another matter involving adolescent relationships under the POCSO Act. It urged the Centre to consider framing a national policy on sexual and reproductive health education, observing that better awareness could help prevent adolescents from inadvertently falling foul of stringent criminal provisions.
Contrary to popular perception, comprehensive sexuality education is not limited to lessons on reproduction.
