The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) strongly recommends installing Sugar Boards in all schools across India. The Sugar Board concept was officially introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in May 2025. It was initiated in collaboration with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), driven by growing concerns over:
- Increasing cases of childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes
- Poor dietary habits due to easy availability of processed foods
- Lack of awareness among students, teachers, and parents about “hidden sugars”
According to recent data from NCPCR, children aged 4-10 years get about 13 per cent of their daily calories from added sugar and children aged 11-18 years consume up to 15 per cent of daily calories from sugar.
This is 3 times higher than the safe limit of 5 per cent recommended by health experts. CBSE has taken a bold step to introduce Sugar Boards in schools across India. This student-friendly campaign aims to raise awareness about the sugar content in everyday food items and encourage healthier habits from an early age.
A Sugar Board is a visual, informative display installed in schools that:
- Shows how much sugar is present in popular food and drink items (e.g., soft drinks, packaged juices, sweets).
- Highlights the recommended daily sugar intake (under 25 grams or 6teaspoons for children, as per WHO guidelines).
- Educates students on the health risks of excess sugarobesity, Type 2 diabetes, dental problems, and reduced
- These boards often use pictures, infographics, and charts to make the information engaging and easy to understand, especially for primary and middle school children.
CBSE issued circulars to over 24,000 affiliated schools encouraging them to install sugar boards and conduct awareness workshops. Schools were asked to submit reports with photos by July 2025. Following CBSE’s lead, even CISCE and state boards have shown interest in adopting similar health awareness practices.
Source: National Commission for Protection of
Child Rights, 2025
