Sex education must be from younger age, not from class IX: Supreme Court

A bench of Justices said, it is for the authorities concerned to apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty, and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that sex education should be provided to children from a younger age, and not Class IX onwards, and it should be a part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe said, it is for the authorities concerned to apply their mind and take corrective measures, so that children are informed of the changes that happen after puberty, and the care and cautions to be taken in relation thereto.

"We are of the opinion that sex education should be provided to children from a younger age and not Class IX onwards," the bench said.

The court made the observations while granting bail to a 15-year-old boy accused of offences under sections 376 (Rape) and 506 (Criminal intimidation) of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and Section 6 (Aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

The court emphasised that sex education should be part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools so that young adolescents are made aware of the hormonal changes that come with puberty.

The bench made absolute its previous order of September 10, 2025 granting bail to the accused minor, saying it would operate till the conclusion of the proceedings.

Examining the challenge to the Allahabad High Court's refusal to grant bail to the juvenile, the court had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit explaining how sex education was provided as a part of the curriculum in higher secondary schools within the state so that young adolescents are made aware of the hormonal changes that come with puberty and the consequences that may flow therefrom.