NEW DELHI: Hit by the Covid pandemic, albeit later than intended, CBSE will roll out twice-a-year board exams for class X from 2026 and introduce the CBSE Global Curriculum for 260 foreign schools affiliated to it from 2026-2027.
The education ministry held a discussion, led by minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with CBSE officials and heads of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), where draft schemes, set for public consultation on next Monday, were thoroughly deliberated.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced plans to implement multiple board exams annually, allowing students to take their exams twice and retain their best score. This reform aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises flexibility and a student centric approach.
According to a ministry official, “The initiative aims at reducing the high pressure, one-time examination system and provide students with an opportunity to improve their performance without the stress of a single high-stakes test. By offering multiple attempts, CBSE seeks to create a more supportive learning environment that prioritizes conceptual understanding over rote memorisation.”
The policy advocates for competency-based evaluations over traditional summative assessments, shifting focus to formative learning and skill mastery. “CBSE is encouraging a shift towards formative learning, where students can focus on skill mastery and self-improvement rather than mere exam performance. This model also aligns with global best practices, such as the SAT system in the US, which allows students to take tests multiple times and submit their best scores,” said the official.
The move also supports NEP’s goal of inclusivity, accommodating students facing challenges such as exam anxiety or illness. Providing multiple attempts ensures students from diverse backgrounds have a fair chance to showcase their abilities. CBSE is also scaling up teacher training to ensure a smooth transition toward this progressive assessment model.
Pradhan emphasised that the new format is a crucial step towards a stress free learning environment. “Examination improvement and reform is a key step towards this. This reform will help mitigate exam-related stress and ensure a more balanced evaluation system,” he said.
In addition, CBSE will also launch its Global Curriculum for foreign schools in 2026-2027. The curriculum will integrate core Indian subjects.