Twice-a-year CBSE board exams to be rolled out from 2025-26
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said students of Classes 10 and 12 can sit for board examinations twice a year, starting from the 2025-26 academic year. The change is part of the new National Education Policy (NEP) introduced in 2020 that aims to reduce academic stress on students, he said. Pradhan announced this while launching the Prime Minister Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme in Chhattisgarh, which will upgrade 211 schools across the state.
New curriculum framework for board exams
Board exams for the two classes will be held under the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) unveiled last August, according to the Education Ministry. Students will have ample time and chances to excel under this arrangement, reports said. Additionally, under the new framework, students can choose to retain their highest score, regardless of their performance in the other exam.
NEP's vision, impact on education sector
Detailing the new move, Pradhan said, "PM Narendra Modi ji's vision...is to keep students stress-free, enrich them with quality education, keep students linked with culture, and prepare them for the future." "This is the formula for making India a developed country by 2047," he added. He also praised the new Bhartiya Janata Party government in Chhattisgarh for "prioritizing education." To recall, the Vishnudeo Sai-led government took over the reins in December 2023 after the BJP's win in the assembly elections.
39 lakh students appearing in CBSE board exams this year
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s Class 10 and 12 examinations began last Thursday (February 15) in India and 26 other countries. This year, over 39 lakh students are appearing in the exam compared to 38.82 lakh students in 2023. The board examinations for Class 10 will conclude on March 13, while the Class 12 exams will end on April 2.
