Bridging the Gap: The Role of Comprehensive Sex Education in Indian Schools in Advancing Gender Justice and Health

Sex education in India remains a contested issue, often viewed as inconsistent with cultural values rather than as a necessary component of education. This paper addresses the gap in awareness within Indian schools and argues that the absence of comprehensive and structured sex education undermines constitutional guarantees of equality, dignity, and personal autonomy under Articles 14, 15, and 21. It examines existing policy frameworks, including the Adolescent Education Programme (AEP) and the National Education Policy 2020, and highlights the limitations in their implementation due to social resistance and prevailing misconceptions. As a result, discussions on sexuality are largely confined to menstrual hygiene, leaving issues such as consent, contraception, and gender identity insufficiently addressed. The paper further analyses the legal and social consequences of this gap, including child marriage, adolescent pregnancies, and unsafe abortions, while also noting disparities between rural and urban access to information. By referring to relevant statutory provisions, the study situates sex education within the broader framework of reproductive rights and public health, and argues for its recognition as an essential constitutional and social responsibility.