Archive · 27 Aug 2026
CISCE to Grade Health and Physical Education From 2028
From 2028, CISCE students will receive a grade for Health and Physical Education.
This grade will be shown on their board marksheet.
Students will learn about sports, exercise, mental health, teamwork and healthy living.
Yoga and mindfulness may also be included.
Some older students currently avoid sports to spend more time studying.
School leaders say exercise can help students work better and learn important life skills.
Schools will need to organise enough activities and watch for student stress.
The new system is meant to make health and physical activity as important as classroom marks.
CISCE will introduce graded Health and Physical Education for senior students from 2028.
The grade will appear on board marksheets at the ICSE and ISC levels.
The programme will cover sports, well-being, yoga, mindfulness, inclusion and leadership.
Schools will have flexibility to offer activities such as sports, physical exercises and yoga.
Principals say assessment could improve participation, while schools may need more activities and counselling support.
- Who
- The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, schools and students at the ICSE and ISC levels.
- What
- Health and Physical Education will become a graded component, with the grade recorded on board marksheets.
- When
- From 2028; the council issued the relevant circular last week.
- Where
- In schools affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations.
- Why
- To encourage physical activity, health awareness, responsible living and skills such as discipline, resilience and teamwork.
Supporters of graded physical education
Concerns and implementation challenges
Making sports a formal requirement
Supporters of graded physical education
School leaders say putting the subject on the marksheet could persuade students and parents to take sports and health more seriously.
Concerns and implementation challenges
Some parents regularly seek exemptions from sports, citing issues such as dust or heat allergies; schools say some cases are genuine, though not all.
Balancing academics and activity
Supporters of graded physical education
Principals say active students can have more productive study hours and develop discipline, resilience and teamwork.
Concerns and implementation challenges
Senior students often give up co-curricular activities in board classes, sometimes voluntarily or because of parental pressure, and schools may need to provide more than one annual sports day.
Delivering the programme
Supporters of graded physical education
The council’s endorsement may make it easier for schools to implement physical education and promote healthy living.
Concerns and implementation challenges
Schools will bear greater responsibility for organising activities, while counsellors may need to engage with every child or group of children and monitor stress and anxiety.
- Start year
- 2028
- Assessment
- A Health and Physical Education grade will appear on the board marksheet.
- Levels affected
- ICSE and ISC
- Covered areas
- Sports, physical activity, mental, emotional and social well-being, physical literacy and active living.
- Additional components
- Yoga, mindfulness, inclusion, leadership and sportspersonship.
- School flexibility
- Schools may introduce physical activities in different ways, including yoga.
- Counselling role
- Schools have been asked to remain vigilant for signs of stress and anxiety among students.