# India plans junk food ban within 50 metres of schools 2026-09-24T11:37:15+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 4 independent outlets India is moving closer to regulations that would restrict the sale of foods high in fat, salt and sugar within 50 metres of schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed. The rule, first proposed in 2020, would affect family-run stores, restaurants and food stands near the country's 1.5 million schools. FSSAI chief executive Rajit Punhani said the aim is to discourage children from developing unhealthy habits early on and to nudge companies to reformulate products. There is no fixed timeline yet, the authority invited public feedback until October 6. The number of Indian children aged 5-19 classified as overweight or obese has surged from 28 million in 2015 to 41 million in 2025, and is projected to reach 56 million by 2040, according to World Obesity Federation data. The western state of Maharashtra has taken a stricter approach, ordering shops within 50 metres of schools not to stock such products at all. State food safety commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said enforcing a rule based on whom products are sold to is impractical given the number of shops. Inspectors have found violations at 133 shops and ordered 51 to discontinue business. The Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry has raised concerns, saying compliance would be difficult near congested markets and could cause loss of livelihood, arguing restrictions should apply only inside schools. Global companies including PepsiCo, Nestle and Mondelez face the proposed rules alongside separate warning label requirements. The Economic Times and Khaleej Times report shopkeepers in Bhubaneswar fear sales could drop by a third or more. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The coverage is uniform straight reporting from a Reuters wire, with no discernible editorial slant across sources. The Economic Times and Khaleej Times lead with the shopkeeper and child-consumer vignette, while Livemint foregrounds the obesity data and global comparison. NDTV offers only a single data point. The common thread is a factual account of the proposal, industry pushback, and Maharashtra's tougher stance. The key tension is enforceability: FSSAI says it targets sales to children, but Maharashtra argues that is unworkable. The public comment period closes October 6, after which the timeline for a final rule will clarify the regulatory path. The uniform straight reporting across all four sources leaves the central question of enforcement unresolved: the FSSAI's child-specific targeting versus Maharashtra's blanket ban. The industry's compliance concerns and the 51 shops already shut in Maharashtra offer a preview of the friction ahead. The next concrete date is the October 6 deadline for public feedback. ## Coverage - economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with shopkeeper and child vignette, straight Reuters wire - livemint.com (neutral report) Foregrounds obesity data and global comparison, wire-based - ndtv.com (neutral report) Single data point, minimal framing - khaleejtimes.com (neutral report) Same wire as source 1, straight reporting Tags: Coca-Cola, FSSAI, Maharashtra, PepsiCo, Rajit Punhani, Tukaram Mundhe Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/india-proposes-junk-food-ban-within-50-metres-of-schools/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/india-proposes-junk-food-ban-within-50-metres-of-schools/#story-in-brief