My Story & Reality
I am a CBSE student, trying hard to balance school, health, and my dreams — but the current attendance rules are breaking me down. My school forces me to attend every single day, even when there is no meaningful learning happening (classes are often unproductive, teachers unavailable, or non academic activities are going on in the school).

Recently, I had a fever and was still forced to go to school just so I don’t lose attendance. Despite feeling weak, I had to sit through long hours, unable to concentrate. By the time I return home, I’m so tired that studying anything for my competitive exams is impossible. I lose hours trying to rest or recover—but by then, the day is gone. The stress piles up. My parents worry. I lose sleep and focus. My physical health suffers, my mental health fractures, and my dreams of doing well in exams feel farther away.

I know I am not alone. Many students face exactly this: forced attendance, constant pressure, exhaustion. We are being asked to show up physically for appearances, not for learning. The rules don’t consider illness, mental health days, or extra demands like competitive exam preparation.

 
What the Facts Tell Us
In India, academic stress is extremely high. Studies show many students suffer from anxiety and depression because of school pressure, high exam expectations, and overburdened schedules. (India Today, The Times of India)
According to NCRB data, 13,089 students died by suicide in 2021 in India. That’s often linked to academic failure, social/parental pressure, and mental stress. (SAGE Journal)

School absenteeism correlates strongly with poor mental health. One study in India found that over 47% of students had “significant absenteeism” (meaning missing more than 12 days in 6 months), often due to illness, family responsibility, or mental discouragement. (Indian Pediatrics)
Another study among adolescent girls in Delhi showed about 40% stay home during menstruation due to pain, shame, and lack of sanitary facilities. They miss important classes and tests, which then compounds their academic burden. NCBI
 
What’s at Stake if Nothing Changes
If CBSE does not reform its attendance policy, many of us will continue to suffer:

Health will deteriorate, both physical (illness exacerbated) and mental (anxiety, depression, sleep loss).
Academic performance will drop—not because of lack of effort, but due to exhaustion and absence of recovery time.
We risk losing out in competitive exams, scholarships, future opportunities. The system punishes the vulnerable instead of supporting them.
Children will be discouraged, stressed, and demotivated. Some may drop out, or worse — mental health crises may escalate.
 
Why Now Must Be the Time to Act
This academic year is already overwhelming. Many of us are preparing for board exams and competitive entrance tests. Every day lost to illness, fatigue, or forced attendance when learning is non-existent eats into our precious time.

Society is more aware now of mental health. Parents, teachers, and students are starting to speak up. CBSE and the Ministry of Education must act before more harm is done—before students give up trying, before dreams are dimmed, before lives are impacted.

 
What I Ask For
Flexible attendance rules: excuse medical, mental health, or emergency absence without heavy penalties.
Alternative options: assignments, assessments in place of strict attendance for those who have legitimate reasons.
A supportive grievance system so students can appeal attendance decisions.
Mindful policies that understand human limits — health, rest, recovery.
 
I’m signing this petition not just for myself, but for all students who think twice before calling in sick, who force themselves to sit through illness, who carry burden instead of books. We deserve an education system that cares about our learning and our well-being.

News / Analysis
India Today — Student mental health crisis: Why education systems must… — overview of student mental-health concerns and why schools should prioritise wellbeing.

India Today — Why student mental wellbeing is the need of the hour — more reporting on mental wellbeing and education pressures in India. India Today

NDTV — CBSE Board Exams 2026: Here's What You Must Know… — clear summary of the CBSE circulars and the 75% attendance requirement (useful to show current policy and deadlines). 
Economic Times — CBSE sets strict attendance criteria for 2026 board exam candidates — reporting on CBSE’s strict enforcement and SOPs for attendance. The Economic Times
 
Official / Data / Reports
IC3 Institute — Student suicides report (uses NCRB data) (PDF) — compiled report summarising NCRB figures on student suicides (shows scale and year-on-year data; useful to support mental-health harms claim). IC3 Institute+1

NCRB summary (ADSI 2021 chapter on suicides) — official statistics excerpt and discussion of student suicides in the NCRB 2021 data.

NCBI / PubMed — School absenteeism during menstruation amongst adolescent girls in Delhi, India (PMC) — peer-reviewed study finding ~40% girls missed school during menstruation (shows legitimate reasons for absence). PMC+1

NCBI / PubMed — Mental Health Issues Among School Children and Adolescents in India (2024 review) — recent paper on prevalence and drivers of mental-health issues among students in India. PMC

These are current news videos that directly address CBSE’s attendance rules and the student stress problem-

“CBSE Reinstates 75% Attendance Rule for Classes 10 & 12” — news explainer" (YouTube) — covers the policy change and implications.

“CBSE Makes 75% Attendance Mandatory for Class 10 & 12” — explainer (YouTube)

“CBSE Attendance Rule Board Exam X & XII 2025-26” — student-centric video (YouTube)

“CBSE Crackdown On 'Dummy Schools'” — investigative video about attendance manipulation and enforcement (YouTube)