Making sexuality a reality in India

India is the second most populous country in the world and has the largest young population between the ages of 10 and 24. Despite its young and culturally diverse population, India has consistently placed a low priority on the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of comprehensive sexuality education [CSE] for its youth. Many children reach adulthood with negative, conflicting, and harmful messages about sexuality, often exacerbated by shame and silence from adults around them. Especially in a traditionalist country like India, social conservatism prevents open and informed discussions about human sexuality and sexual health. This places the natural curiosity of young people in the hands of equally ignorant peers and/or the Internet. Despite this dangerous precedent, India's new National Education Policy, to be released in 2020, makes no mention of CSE and its pervasive need for India's youth.