Explained: Why functional beverages are gaining popularity among exam-going students
As competition continues to intensify, analysts believe that exam preparation practices will evolve accordingly. Consuming functional drinks is likely to stand tall to provide instant energy for students.
New Delhi: As competitive exams grow more intense and preparation cycles extend across months, student wellness is increasingly being viewed as a factor influencing academic performance rather than a separate concern. Education and health experts note that functional beverages may become a regular part of exam-season routines, reflecting broader changes in how students manage focus, stress, hydration, and sleep.
During exam periods, students often rely on high-caffeine drinks to push through long study hours. However, rising reports of sleep disruption, anxiety, and burnout among adolescents and college students have led to closer scrutiny of these habits.
In an exclusive conversation with TV9English, Nidhi Saxena, Founder of Delulu- iShots Beverages Pvt Ltd, points out how the performance during exams depends not only on study time, but also on cognitive stability and physical well-being. Functional beverages—drinks formulated for specific physiological needs such as sustained alertness, hydration, or relaxation—are increasingly discussed in this context. Unlike conventional energy drinks, these beverages are positioned around controlled stimulation, hydration support, and recovery rather than rapid energy spikes.
Focus and attention management
According to academic performance specialists, one of the main challenges during exams is maintaining attention over extended periods without mental fatigue. Sudden surges of stimulation followed by crashes can reduce concentration and impair sleep later in the day. Drinks designed for steady alertness, often combining moderate caffeine with compounds associated with calmer focus, are being studied as alternatives during long study sessions.
Hydration during extended study hours
Medical professionals note that dehydration is a common but overlooked issue during exams. Students frequently replace water with tea, coffee, or sweetened beverages, especially during long hours indoors or while commuting between exam centres. Hydration-focused formulations containing electrolytes are increasingly being considered as supportive options to help maintain cognitive and physical balance, particularly during consecutive exam days.
Stress during prolonged exam cycles
Unlike single-day assessments, modern exam preparation often spans weeks or months, creating sustained psychological pressure. Experts highlight that chronic stress can affect memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Functional drinks aimed at stress support, including those using adaptogenic ingredients, are being evaluated for their role in helping students recover more quickly from setbacks such as poor mock test results or ranking pressure.
Sleep and recovery
Sleep deprivation remains one of the most significant challenges during exam seasons. Education counsellors emphasize that late-night studying, combined with prolonged screen exposure, can interfere with natural sleep cycles. Calming beverage formulations are being explored as part of healthier evening routines that help students disengage from study mode and support quality rest, which is essential for memory consolidation.
Overall, experts suggest that the growing interest in functional beverages reflects a broader shift in exam preparation culture—from endurance-driven habits to more sustainable performance strategies. While traditional elements such as regular meals and adequate water intake remain central, students are increasingly making more deliberate choices about what they consume during high-pressure periods.
In the coming years, functional beverages may be viewed not as a trend, but as a practical response to the physical and cognitive demands placed on students—signalling a shift toward integrating wellness into academic performance planning.