Objective: To synthesise global evidence and implementation experiences on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), examine policy and delivery gaps in India, and propose an evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate framework for strengthening CSE implementation. Methods: A narrative review with an evidence-informed policy analysis was undertaken using literature identified from Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science, supplemented by policy documents, programme reports, curricular frameworks and reports from national and international agencies. Literature published between 2008 and 2025 was considered. Evidence was thematically organised around CSE content, developmental appropriateness, implementation and teacher preparation, policy frameworks, sociocultural barriers, child protection, digital safety and psychosexual health. Results: Global evidence indicates that age-appropriate and culturally relevant CSE can improve sexual health knowledge, promote safer practices, healthy relationships, gender sensitivity and protection from violence. However, international experiences demonstrate persistent challenges related to teacher preparedness, sociocultural resistance and incomplete curriculum coverage. In India, CSE remains fragmented, with interventions frequently concentrated on menstrual health and biological aspects of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Key gaps include limited coverage of consent, relationships, gender, violence prevention, digital safety and child protection. The proposed framework recommends a national core curriculum with contextual state adaptation, developmental progression, structured teacher preparation, specialist support, safeguarding and referral mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, pilot implementation and systematic monitoring. Conclusion: India requires a coordinated, rights-based and evidence-informed CSE framework that balances national consistency with contextual adaptation. Strengthening delivery systems and implementation research is essential for sustainable integration of CSE into mainstream education.
Sex education in India continues to occupy an uneasy space between public-health necessity and sociocultural discomfort. Although adolescents today encounter unprecedented amounts of sexual information through digital media, access to reliable, developmentally appropriate and scientifically accurate guidance remains uneven. Conventional approaches have often concentrated on anatomy, menstruation, reproduction and sexually transmitted infections, while giving less attention to consent, relationships, emotional intimacy, contraception, digital sexual behaviour and sexual wellbeing. This viewpoint argues that sexuality education should be reframed as psychosexual-health education rather than as instruction about sexual activity alone. The military provides a useful, relatively unexplored context in which to examine this shift. Military families experience repeated relocation, separation and deployment, while young service personnel navigate relationships within a highly structured occupational environment. These circumstances create specific needs related to sexual health, reproductive planning, relationship functioning, confidentiality and help-seeking. Existing military evidence, although largely derived from non-Indian settings, suggests that structured sexual and reproductive-health interventions can be beneficial. India already possesses an adolescent-health framework through the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram, but sex education needs stronger integration with psychosexual and relationship health. A culturally sensitive, developmentally graded and healthcare-linked model could move the discussion beyond the binary of ‘sex education versus no sex education’ and towards a more constructive goal: preparing young people and service personnel to understand their bodies, relationships, boundaries and sexual health responsibly.
Objective: This study examines customary premarital cohabitation among the Malayalee tribal community of the Jawadhu Hills in Tamil Nadu, India. It explores how indigenous relationship practices challenge dominant understandings of marriage, foster social bonding, and reflect resilience in kinship structures amid changing legal frameworks and increasing exposure to globalisation. Material and Methods: The study adopts a qualitative, case-study-oriented approach, employing narrative analysis of in-depth interviews with approximately 20 tribal community members. The interviews explore participants’ lived experiences, cultural practices, and community perspectives on premarital cohabitation. Relational engagement and respect for indigenous traditions informed the research process, while thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns and interpret participants’ narratives. Results: The findings indicate that premarital cohabitation is a community-recognised practice embedded in the cultural traditions of the Malayalee tribal communities. It is associated with social bonding, kinship formation, familial alliances, resource-sharing, and conflict resolution through the elders’ council. However, increasing external scrutiny, particularly concerning relationships involving minors, has contributed to greater secrecy and tension between customary practices and state law. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complex relationship between indigenous cultural autonomy, customary practices, and formal legal frameworks. Community-based mechanisms may contribute to social cohesion and local dispute resolution, while external scrutiny can generate mistrust and uncertainty. These dynamics underscore the importance of understanding tribal relationship practices within their historical and sociocultural contexts, while recognising the need to uphold individual rights, child protection, and applicable legal safeguards. The study highlights the importance of culturally sensitive engagement that recognises indigenous traditions while upholding legal protections and individual rights. Constructive dialogue between tribal communities, state institutions, and service providers may help reduce tensions and address vulnerabilities without stereotyping indigenous practices. By examining premarital cohabitation within its specific cultural context, the study contributes to historical and sociological understandings of marriage, intimacy, kinship, and social resilience among India’s Scheduled Tribes.
