– Mita Mukherjee

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked its affiliated schools to install display boards on campuses highlighting the extent of fat present in popular food items like samosas, kachori and pakoras to promote healthy food habits and lifestyle among students.

The CBSE directive aims to check the sharp rise of obesity among adults and students and create an awareness about proper dietary habits and choice of right food to remain healthy, according to a circular issued to affiliated schools by CBSE director Praggya. M. Singh on Tuesday.

The board has sent a sample poster to the schools where it mentions information like maximum 27 to 30 gm of fat can be consumed in a day and the amount of fat present in different food items. For example, the posters to be displayed in schools would mention details like one samosa would contain 17 gm of fat, two kachoris 10 gm, one vada 10 gm, 10 pakoras 130 gm, one vadapao 127 gm, french fries 117 gm, one piece of burger 31 gm, four slices of pizzas 425 gm and banana chips 14 gm.

“Prevalence of childhood obesity is impacted mostly by poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity,” the circular read.

The data pointed out in the circular says, according to the findings of the fifth round of National Family Health Survey, one in five adults in urban areas is overweight or obese in India. According to 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 including 2050 making the country second highest global burden of overweight or obese. 

The schools can customise the informative posters and display boards as per their requirement, the board said.

The July 15 circular is a continuation of the board’s earlier initiative to reduce excess sugar intake by students in view of the sharp rise of Type – 2 diabetes among students.

The CBSE director academics asked schools to sensitise students by taking some key measures like installing “Oil Board” displays in common areas, printing health awareness messages in official stationery including envelopes, letterheads, notepads, folders and publications as reminders to fight obesity.

The schools have also been asked to promote healthy meals by including more fruits and vegetables, limiting availability of high- fat snacks and sugary drinks, arranging short breaks for physical activity and exercise, encouraging students to use stairs and facilitating walking routes.

For details regarding the initiative, the schools have been asked to contact Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the apex food regulator under the ministry of health.

The initiative is in tune with the prime minister Narendra Modi’s vision for healthier India, a source in the CBSE said.

Also read: CBSE asks affiliated schools to support NIOS exams