93% of students complete fitness tests under Active CISCE; board plans health indices

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has achieved a significant milestone, with over 93% of its students completing physical fitness assessments under the 'Active CISCE' program. Launched on July 15 last year, the initiative has engaged more than 3.12 million students across 3,274 affiliated schools, with 2.91 million completing their evaluations by April 30, 2026.

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Active CISCE represents our commitment to placing health, fitness and well-being at the heart of school education. We aim to create a culture of active living and establish a national framework for monitoring physical fitness among young learners.

The program assesses age-appropriate physical parameters, focusing on fundamental movement skills for younger students and endurance and body composition for older ones. CISCE is also developing specialized tests for children with special needs. A key feature is a fitness report card for each student, enabling continuous tracking of physical development by schools and parents.

Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, chief executive and secretary of CISCE, stated that the program underscores the board's commitment to integrating health and fitness into education. He highlighted the aim to foster a culture of active living and establish a national framework for monitoring youth fitness. The initiative also seeks to identify sporting talent early and encourage students to pursue sports careers, referencing CISCE's history of producing notable athletes.

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We aspire to nurture the next generation of Olympic champions and actively contribute to the nation’s sporting mission.

Furthermore, the program will establish national benchmarks: the School Health Index and the School Fitness Index. These indices are expected to provide data-driven insights into students' physical well-being across different regions and age groups, supporting evidence-based interventions and policy development. Initial findings indicate positive levels of balance and coordination, but also raise concerns regarding obesity, nutrition, body composition, and increasing sedentary lifestyles among students.

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The indicators are expected to support evidence-based interventions, strengthen school health programmes and contribute to long-term policy development.