CET 2026 Public Health Syllabus — Same 4 Sub-Topics for Senior Secondary and Graduation

Why Public Health Is a Priority in CET 2026

Public Health is a new named section in both CET Senior Secondary 2026 and CET Graduation 2026. RSSB Advertisement 08/2026 adds it to the Senior Secondary paper, and Advertisement 09/2026 adds the same 4 sub-topics to the Graduation paper.

This creates a scoring opportunity for candidates who address all 4 sub-topics directly. The competition on Public Health will be lower than on History or Geography, which have years of PYQ material. A targeted 1-2 hour block on each sub-topic is enough if studied from the right syllabus-aligned sources.

• Sub-topic 1: First Aid basics and CPR.
• Sub-topic 2: Drug abuse types and prevention.
• Sub-topic 3: Youth physical and mental fitness.
• Sub-topic 4: Health risks of social media addiction and preventive measures.

Sub-topic 1 — First Aid Basics and CPR

First Aid is immediate care given before professional medical assistance arrives. The goal is to preserve life, prevent further harm and promote recovery. The exam syllabus covers basics, so focus on definitions, action sequences, and common protocols rather than clinical procedures.

The standard assessment sequence used in most public health curricula is DRSABC: Danger — Remove the danger or yourself; Response — Check if the person is responsive; Send for help — Call 112; Airway — Open the airway by tilting head and lifting chin; Breathing — Check for normal breathing; CPR — Start compressions if not breathing normally.

CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. The standard public-use protocol is 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. Compressions are applied to the centre of the chest, pushing hard and fast at about 100–120 per minute.

For the CET exam, also know: AED (Automated External Defibrillator) function and basic operation; Heimlich manoeuvre for choking; pressure and elevation for bleeding; immobilisation for fractures; cool water for burns; recovery position for unconscious breathing casualties.

Sub-topic 2 — Drug Abuse Types and Prevention

The exam covers types of drug abuse and measures to prevent them. Prepare the major classification and legal framework rather than clinical pharmacology.

Major types for the exam: sedatives and tranquilizers (sleeping pills, benzodiazepines), opiates such as heroin and morphine, cannabis compounds such as ganja, charas and bhang, stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines and tobacco-based products, and hallucinogens such as LSD.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) is the primary Indian statute controlling narcotic drugs. Key year: 1985. Key exam points: it covers cultivation, manufacture, possession, sale and transportation; there are provisions for treatment of addicts alongside punitive clauses.

Signs of addiction: tolerance (needing more to get same effect), withdrawal symptoms, neglect of responsibilities, continued use despite harm. Health impact: liver and kidney damage, neurological degeneration, cardiovascular stress, mental health disorders including depression and psychosis.

Prevention at community level: awareness campaigns in schools and Panchayats, de-addiction centres under NMHP (National Mental Health Programme), MANODARPAN initiative for student mental health support, peer education programmes, and enforcement of the NDPS Act 1985.

Sub-topic 3 — Youth Physical and Mental Fitness

This sub-topic covers physical and mental fitness of youth. The exam framing is public health, not sports science, so focus on key concepts, institutions and policy rather than exercise techniques.

Physical fitness components relevant to CET: cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. National-level initiatives: KHELO India (promoting grassroots sports), FIT India Movement, School Health Programme under Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

Mental health of youth: stress and anxiety from academic pressure, peer relationships and exam competition are common triggers. The National Mental Health Policy 2014 frames mental health as a public health issue. KIRAN helpline (1800-599-0019) provides free mental health support.

Key concepts for the exam: what constitutes mental illness as distinct from stress, factors that protect mental health (social support, sleep, exercise, purpose), and the role of schools and community in early identification and intervention.

Sub-topic 4 — Social Media Addiction Health Risks

Social media addiction and its health risks is explicitly named in the RSSB 2026 syllabus as a Public Health sub-topic. This is a completely new exam area for CET and has no PYQ precedent. Prepare it as a clean learning module.

Addictive design features: infinite scroll, push notifications, variable-reward likes, streak mechanics and algorithmic feed are deliberately engineered to maximise time-on-app. This is a design model, not a personal failing.

Physical harms: digital eye strain such as dry eyes and blurred vision, text neck and poor posture, sleep disruption from blue light and bedtime use, repetitive stress injuries from touchscreen use, and reduced outdoor activity leading to vitamin D deficiency.

Mental harms: anxiety from social comparison and validation-seeking, depression linked to passive scrolling, FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), cyberbullying and online harassment, reduced attention span and difficulty with deep focus, and body image distress from filtered content.

Preventive measures: screen time limits through phone settings or apps, scheduled digital detox periods, notification management, physical spaces and times that are phone-free, parental controls and digital literacy programmes in schools, promoting face-to-face social interaction, and mindfulness practices to build attention.

How to Study Public Health for CET 2026

Allocate one 1–2 hour session per sub-topic, four sessions total. Since there are no CET-specific PYQs on Public Health, use RSSB health department state-level syllabus and NCERT Health and Physical Education texts as base material.

Make a one-page factsheet per sub-topic with: the key definition, the official framework or act (NDPS Act 1985, KIRAN helpline), the 3–5 most exam-friendly facts, and common misconceptions to avoid.

Revise using MCQ practice rather than passage-reading after the initial study block. This converts recognition memory into recall memory for MCQ contexts. Focus on discrimination questions such as which is a sedative vs stimulant, which protocol matches which emergency, and what the NDPS Act year and key clause is.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Prepare the CET 2026 Public Health Section Efficiently

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