Health is a critical input for the overall development of the child since it influences significantly enrolment, retention and completion of school. This subject area adopts a holistic definition of health within which physical education and yoga contribute to the physical, social, emotional and mental aspects of a child's development. The basic understanding is that health of children contributes to their healthy living in the future and also provides the base for performance in the chosen area of work.
The curriculum design for this area addresses the health and physical fitness needs of children at different levels of schooling with special attention to vulnerable social groups and girl children. Our comprehensive school health programme is a part of the sports and physical education, it is related to the needs of our children and also age specific concerns at different stages of development. The idea of a comprehensive school health programme was conceived of in the 1940's that included six major components viz. medical care, hygienic school environment, and school lunch, health, yoga and physical education.