The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) hosted its National Adolescent Summit 2025 on December 5 . The event occurred at the CBSE Dwarka headquarters. Its primary focus was student mental health, digital safety, and emerging challenges faced by adolescents. School heads, counsellors, and experts from across India and abroad participated.
Summit Addresses Key Adolescent Issues
The summit began by establishing a broad context for adolescent development. Early sessions discussed the current landscape of student wellbeing. Participants stressed the critical need for robust support structures at the school level. Plenary sessions then delved into specific mental health concerns affecting students. They also addressed complex issues related to online behavior.
Key topics covered responsible social media use. Discussions included best practices for cyber safety. Experts also guided on managing screen-time habits for healthy development. Beyond digital challenges, sessions explored gender sensitivity in educational settings. Strategies for effective bullying prevention were also a core focus.
Experts examined various lifestyle choices impacting adolescents. This included comprehensive discussions on the risks and prevention of substance use. Body image issues, a significant concern for many young people, were also thoroughly analyzed. These detailed discussions aimed to equip schools with actionable strategies for student support.
Extensive Participation and Expert Panels
Over 800 delegates attended the National Adolescent Summit. This attendance included more than 750 principals, vice-principals, counsellors, and wellness teachers. Participants represented educational institutions from India and international locations. A notable delegation joined from Muscat, Oman.
Delegates from the Delhi NCR region formed the largest group present. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also sent substantial contingents. Representatives traveled from over 20 other Indian states to attend. The entire summit was livestreamed on CBSE’s official YouTube channels. This broadcast expanded the event’s reach to a wider audience.
Panel discussions brought together a diverse group of professionals. Psychologists, health professionals, school leaders, and experienced counselling experts contributed. They collaborated to outline practical approaches. These methods aim to strengthen existing wellbeing services within schools. A dedicated showcase during the summit highlighted innovative counselling practices already being implemented across various institutions.
Student Perspectives and Future Framework
The Youth Engagement segment showcased student-led performances. These activities aimed to directly present student perspectives on mental wellbeing. They also provided an important space for peer expression. Performances included traditional Nukkad Natak street plays, poignant poetry readings, and expressive mime acts.
A powerful themed dance act, titled “I Rise,” conveyed messages of resilience. Students also performed rap pieces addressing common adolescent stressors and coping mechanisms. These creative expressions offered valuable insights directly from the student community.
Singer Diwakar Sharma delivered the valedictory address. He shared his personal experiences of balancing the demands of academic studies with his passion for music. The summit concluded with the official release of a summary document. This document outlines a clear framework for future actions. These strategic initiatives will be implemented across all CBSE-affiliated schools nationwide.
CBSE stated that the insights generated from these discussions will directly inform future initiatives. These include ongoing efforts to foster safe school environments. They will also enhance existing counselling systems and strengthen adolescent support programs. This strategic direction aligns closely with the overarching goals of the National Education Policy 2020.