AIIMS expert addresses student concerns over peer pressure in CBSE talkathon

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday held a 45-minute interactive talkathon on “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”, bringing together experts, educators and students for an open discussion on substance abuse prevention, officials said.

The session focused on concerns frequently faced by young people, including mental health challenges, peer pressure and the steps needed to overcome substance dependence.

Explaining the idea behind the initiative, a senior CBSE official said direct engagement with students through social media platforms such as X, Instagram and YouTube was aimed at encouraging young people to make healthy and responsible choices.

“At the core of this innovative initiative to engage directly with students through social media platforms like X, Instagram and YouTube, lies the idea that for realising the vision of Viksit Bharat at 2047, it is pertinent to have a strong foundation in these children and young adults who will be the youth of tomorrow taking forward the mantle of Viksit Bharat and hence the importance of making healthy and responsible choices,” the official said.

CBSE also invited questions from students through popular social media platforms using the hashtags #NashaMuktYuva and #CBSETalkathon, allowing them to raise concerns directly during the discussion.

The expert panel included Nand Kumar from the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS, New Delhi; Alka Awasthi, principal of Mayoor School, Noida; and Anees C, Additional Director, Narcotics Control Bureau, New Delhi.

The students’ questions covered a range of issues, including mental health, ways to deal with peer pressure and key steps towards de-addiction.

“The questions raised included apprehensions about mental health, how to overcome peer pressure, vital steps for de-addiction etc. The panellists gave a patient hearing to the queries, as they came live on the social media platforms,” the official added.