Well-being: The Imperative Need of Education in 21st Century

The 21st-century world presents unprecedented challenges for young people: academic pressure, social media, global uncertainty, and rising rates of anxiety and depression. Traditional education models, focused solely on standardized test scores and knowledge acquisition, are ill-equipped to address this reality. This article argues for reframing the purpose of education to include the development of healthy, resilient, and engaged individuals by placing well-being at the center of the educational mission. It conceptualizes well-being as a multi-faceted state of flourishing, drawing on both Western dimensions (Hedonic, Eudaimonic, Social, Physical) and the rich foundations of Indian philosophical traditions (Vedānta, Sāṃkhya-Yoga, Buddhism). The article proposes a unique Indian model based on the Puruṣārtha (aims of life) and the Panchakośa (five sheaths) model for holistic development. It concludes with practical applications for integrating these principles into pedagogy and policy, positioning well-being not as an add-on but as the foundational ethos for a sustainable and effective Indian education system.