About the Book

Health and Physical Education is a holistic subject that addresses the total well-being of the learner — not just physical health, but also mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. The ultimate aim of this subject is to help students attain an optimum state of health, empowering them to lead balanced and fulfilling lives. The foundation of this curriculum lies in the practice of healthy living, which supports and enhances all aspects of Physical Education.

This subject has been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving health and fitness needs of students across various stages of schooling. It is inclusive in nature, with a clear emphasis on ensuring that all children, including those with special needs, are able to benefit from its learning outcomes.

Key Objectives of Health and Physical Education:

• To develop awareness about the importance of physical fitness in both personal and social life.

• To cultivate Life Skills and Core Values among learners.

• To promote physical, mental, and emotional fitness, and nurture personal and social qualities essential for becoming responsible, empathetic individuals.

• To encourage proactive actions — individually and collectively — for promoting and safeguarding:

  • One’s own health

  • The health of family members

  • The health of the community, while also seeking support from available resources when needed.

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

• To address the physical and psychosocial needs of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) in an integrated and inclusive manner.

• To develop a positive attitude towards challenges, success, and failure — thus preparing students for life and the workplace.

In line with these objectives, the CBSE, in consultation with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, has endeavored to mainstream Health and Physical Education as a core component of school education. It is now a cross-curricular, interdisciplinary discipline, integrated across secondary and senior secondary levels.

This subject is organized around the following four 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-keeping and self-assessment)

This integrated approach ensures that learners experience health education as a continuous, participatory, and experiential process, reinforcing values and habits that will benefit them throughout life.

—Publishers