About the Book

Health and Physical Education is a comprehensive discipline that addresses the total health and well-being of the learner. It encompasses not only physical health, but also the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of an individual. The core objective of this subject is to enable students to attain an optimum state of health, forming the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living and physical well-being.

This curriculum has been thoughtfully designed to address the specific health and fitness needs of students at various stages of schooling. It is inclusive in nature, aiming to support all learners, including Children With Special Needs (CWSN), in achieving these goals.

Key Objectives of the Subject

• To develop awareness of the importance of physical fitness in both individual and social contexts.

• To inculcate essential Life Skills and Core Values in learners.

• To enhance physical, mental, and emotional fitness, and to nurture personal and social qualities that contribute to responsible and empathetic citizenship.

• To empower students to take proactive action—individually and collectively—to:

  • Maintain their own health

  • Support the health of family members

  • Promote the health of the surrounding community

  • Seek assistance from relevant community resources when needed

• To build inner qualities such as self-mastery, discipline, courage, confidence, and efficiency.

• To sensitively address the physical and psychosocial needs of CWSN through an integrated and inclusive approach.

• To foster a positive attitude towards challenges, as well as healthy responses to winning and losing, thereby preparing students for real-life situations and workplace environments.

In line with these objectives, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in consultation with the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has taken a forward-thinking approach to mainstream and integrate Health and Physical Education across secondary and senior secondary levels.

To ensure holistic and structured implementation, the curriculum is organized across the following four interdisciplinary strands:

• Strand 1: Games and Sports

• Strand 2: Health and Fitness

• Strand 3: SEWA (Social Empowerment through Work Education and Action)

• Strand 4: Health & Activity Card (for record and self-assessment)

This cross-curricular framework ensures that health and physical education is not treated as an isolated subject, but as an integral part of the learner’s overall development—intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.

We hope this book serves as a valuable resource for both teachers and students, and plays a key role in shaping health-conscious, resilient, and responsible individuals.

—Publishers