The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national-level board of education for public and private schools in India, controlled and managed by the Government of India under the Ministry of Education. It conducts and oversees board examinations for Classes X and XII and frames the curriculum for Classes 9โ12 based on NCERT syllabi.
CBSE also administers national-level examinations including CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) and has historically administered AIPMT (replaced by NEET under NTA). It is the largest single school board in India by number of affiliated schools.
Full form: Central Board of Secondary Education | Hindi: เคเฅเคเคฆเฅเคฐเฅเคฏ เคฎเคพเคงเฅเคฏเคฎเคฟเค เคถเคฟเคเฅเคทเคพ เคฌเฅเคฐเฅเคก | HQ: New Delhi | Website: cbse.gov.in | Current Chairperson: Rahul Singh, IAS (as of 2024)
| Term | Meaning / Significance |
|---|---|
| Board Examination | Standardised external examination at the end of Class X and XII, conferring a nationally recognised certificate |
| Examination Integrity | Fairness, transparency and tamper-proof conduct of board exams โ free from paper leaks, impersonation, UFM |
| Credibility | Public trust in the validity of marks/certificates awarded; affected by grade inflation, rote learning, paper leaks |
| Governance | Institutional mechanisms (rules, oversight, accountability) through which CBSE administers examinations and affiliations |
| UFM (Unfair Means) | Cheating, impersonation, use of unauthorised materials, paper leaks โ governed by CBSE's Unfair Means Rules |
| Affiliation | Formal recognition granted by CBSE to a school; permits it to prepare students for CBSE board exams |
| NCERT Curriculum | All CBSE-affiliated schools must follow NCERT textbooks from Class 9โ12; content basis for board questions |
| APAAR ID | Academic Bank of Credits ID โ unique digital academic identity for every CBSE student (mandated from 2025โ26) |
| Pariksha Sangam | CBSE's integrated online portal for registration, admit cards, results and academic tracking |
| OSM | On-Screen Marking โ digital evaluation system for Class XII answer sheets introduced from 2026 exams |
| Competency-Based Assessment | Shift from rote recall to application, analysis and problem-solving โ NEP 2020 mandate implemented from 2024โ26 |
CBSE straddles multiple Polity dimensions:
UPSC has tested education governance through the lens of Polity (Art. 21A, RTE), Current Affairs (NEP 2020, NEET crisis), and GS-II (Education as a subject of governance). CBSE reforms post-2024 are now directly MCQ-testable.
| Article / Entry | Provision | Significance for CBSE |
|---|---|---|
| Art. 21A | Right to free and compulsory education for children aged 6โ14 years | Inserted by 86th Amendment 2002; foundational right underlying CBSE's mandate |
| Art. 45 (DPSP) | State to endeavour to provide free & compulsory education up to 14 years | Original provision; converted to enforceable right via 86th Amendment |
| Art. 46 (DPSP) | State to promote educational and economic interests of weaker sections | Basis for inclusive education norms in RTE and CBSE affiliation rules |
| Art. 30 | Minority educational institutions' rights | RTE Act not applicable to minority institutions (SC ruling 2014) |
| Entry 25, List III | Education (Concurrent List) โ both Centre and States can legislate | States have their own boards; Centre-affiliated CBSE operates nationwide |
| Entry 66, List I | Coordination and determination of standards in higher education | Centre's power to set national examination standards through CBSE, NTA |
| Art. 51A(k) | Fundamental Duty โ parent/guardian to provide opportunities for education | Added by 86th Amendment; reinforces compulsory education mandate |
| Act / Rule | Year | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|
| 86th Constitutional Amendment | 2002 | Inserted Art. 21A (Right to Education as Fundamental Right); amended Art. 45 & added Art. 51A(k) |
| RTE Act | 2009 (enforced 2010) | Free & compulsory education for 6โ14 years; no detention till Class VIII; norms for schools; came into effect 1 April 2010 |
| CBSE Unfair Means (UFM) Rules | Ongoing (revised 2024โ25) | Governs penalties for cheating: 2-year ban for devices, 3-year ban for impersonation, social media misconduct |
| Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act | 2024 | Passed by both Houses Feb 2024; assented 25 Feb 2024; enforced 21 June 2024; covers UPSC, SSC, NTA, Railways, IBPS; criminalises paper leaks, impersonation, digital tampering |
| Right to Education (Amendment) Act | 2019 | Restored right to hold back students in Class V and VIII on failing exams โ reversing original no-detention policy of RTE 2009 |
| NEP 2020 | 2020 | Policy (not Act) recommending: Board exams twice a year, competency-based assessment, 5+3+3+4 school structure, holistic development report cards |
Bill No. 15 of 2024 ยท Introduced by Dr. Jitendra Singh (MoS, Personnel) ยท Lok Sabha: 6 Feb 2024 ยท Rajya Sabha: 9 Feb 2024 ยท Presidential Assent: 25 Feb 2024 ยท Enforced: 21 June 2024
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | Applies to examinations conducted by UPSC, SSC, Railway Recruitment Board, NTA, IBPS, and Central Govt departments โ does NOT directly cover CBSE board exams (which are not recruitment exams) |
| Offences | Paper leaks; impersonation; tampering with computer networks; assisting candidates; obstructing examinations; leaking question papers before scheduled time |
| Penalty (Paper Leak) | Imprisonment up to 10 years + fine up to โน1 crore for organised groups |
| Penalty (Individual cheating) | 3โ5 years imprisonment + fine up to โน10 lakh |
| Service providers' liability | Examination service providers (printing, software) face โน1 crore fine + property attachment if complicit |
| Trigger | NEET-UG 2024 paper leak crisis (24 lakh students; SC refused cancellation in July 2024); CBSE 2018 leak; Vyapam scam |
The UFM Act 2024 does NOT directly govern CBSE board examinations โ CBSE board exams are secondary education exams, not recruitment/entrance exams covered under the Schedule. CBSE has its own UFM Rules. Many students confuse this.
UPSC frequently tests dates of constitutional amendments, not just their content. Remember: 86th Amendment = 2002, RTE Act enforcement = 1 April 2010, CBSE reconstitution = 1 July 1962, UFM Act enforcement = 21 June 2024.
| Policy | Year | Key Impact on CBSE |
|---|---|---|
| National Policy on Education (NPE) | 1968 | 3-language formula; common curriculum concept |
| NPE (Revised) | 1986 | Continuous evaluation emphasis; vocational education push |
| Programme of Action | 1992 | Modified NPE 1986; Minimum Levels of Learning (MLL) |
| NEP 2020 | 2020 | Most sweeping reform since 1986: 5+3+3+4 structure; board exams twice/year; competency-based assessment; APAAR; mother-tongue instruction |
2025 CBSE Exams: 2.42 million Class X students (84 subjects) + 1.78 million Class XII students (120 subjects) appeared across 7,842 centres in India and 26 countries. Exams conducted in a single shift: 10:30 AM โ 1:30 PM.
2026 CBSE Exams: ~26.60 lakh Class X students + ~20 lakh Class XII students expected. Class X exams: Feb 17 โ March 11, 2026. Class XII exams: Feb 17 โ April 10, 2026.
| Board | Full Form | Governing Body | Key Exams | Schools (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBSE | Central Board of Secondary Education | Ministry of Education, GoI | AISSE (X), AISSCE (XII), CTET | ~29,000+ India, 257 abroad |
| CISCE / ICSE | Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations | Private (non-governmental) | ICSE (X), ISC (XII) | ~2,700+ |
| State Boards | Varies (UP Board, Maharashtra Board, etc.) | Respective State Govts | State X & XII exams | Largest combined footprint |
| IB | International Baccalaureate | IB Organisation, Geneva (Switzerland) | MYP, DP | ~200+ (India) |
| IGCSE / Cambridge | International General Certificate of Secondary Education | Cambridge Assessment (UK) | IGCSE, A-Levels | ~500+ (India) |
UPSC tests the distinction: CBSE is a government body under Ministry of Education. CISCE (ICSE) is a private, non-governmental body. This frequently appears in matching questions.
India participated in PISA 2009 (Programme for International Student Assessment โ conducted by OECD) and ranked 72nd out of 73 countries, just above Kyrgyzstan. India has not officially participated since, though the government has repeatedly expressed intent to participate. PISA tests 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science in real-world scenarios โ exposing India's gap between high board exam marks and actual learning outcomes.
The National Achievement Survey (NAS) โ India's own learning-level assessment conducted by MoE โ has consistently found average student scores below 50% across five subjects, contrasting sharply with high CBSE board pass rates. This credibility gap is a governance challenge.
| Year | Class X Pass % | Class XII Pass % | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ~86% | ~83% | Paper leak (Maths X, Economics XII); re-exam held |
| 2021 | 99.04% | 99.37% | Exams cancelled (COVID); alternate assessment criteria used โ SC-upheld formula |
| 2022 | 94.40% | 92.71% | First two-term exam (Term 1 + Term 2); reverted to annual from 2023 |
| 2025 | ~93% | ~88% | Results declared 13 May 2025; paper-leak rumours rejected by CBSE (Feb 2025) |
| 2026 | Dual-attempt | Annual (OSM evaluation) | First year of dual-exam system for Class X; On-Screen Marking for Class XII |
| Level | Body / Post | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Authority | Ministry of Education, GoI | Policy direction; overall control; budget allocation |
| Governing Body | CBSE Board (Governing Body) | Policy decisions; curriculum; affiliation rules; examination norms |
| Executive Head | Chairperson, CBSE (IAS) | Administrative head; implements governing body decisions |
| Examination Control | Controller of Examinations | Conducts board exams; question paper management; result processing |
| Academic Wing | CBSE Academic Unit | Curriculum design (NCERT-based); textbooks; competency frameworks |
| Regional Offices | 12 Regional Offices | Allahabad, Ajmer, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Guwahati, Panchkula, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Pune (approx.) |
| International Schools | Regional Office, Delhi | Looks after all 257 overseas-affiliated schools |
CBSE affiliation is not permanent โ it is granted, reviewed and can be withdrawn. Key conditions:
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure | High-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording across all key campus areas (mandated from 2025โ26) |
| Attendance | Minimum 75% attendance mandatory for board exam eligibility (Class X and XII) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | Must comply with CBSE/RTE norms; ratio violations = grounds for disaffiliation |
| Records | Admission register, attendance register, service books, leave records โ maintained and available for inspection |
| Dummy Students | Strict prohibition; schools with large numbers of dummy/non-attending students face disaffiliation (21 Delhi schools disaffiliated Oct 2024) |
| APAAR ID Registration | Mandatory registration via Pariksha Sangam portal for Classes 9 & 11; each student assigned a unique APAAR ID |
| Skill Composite Labs | Mandatory for all affiliated schools from 2024; composite skill labs for hands-on/vocational development |
In October 2024, CBSE conducted surprise inspections in Delhi and Rajasthan schools, issued show-cause notices to 27 schools, and disaffiliated 21 schools (mostly in Delhi) for dummy students, missing records, and improper student-teacher ratios.
| Initiative | Purpose | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits ID) | Unique digital academic identity for every CBSE student; enables academic credit banking across institutions | Mandated 2025โ26 |
| Pariksha Sangam Portal | Centralised online platform: registration, LOC (List of Candidates), admit cards, results; reduces paperwork, single source of truth | Introduced 2024โ25 |
| On-Screen Marking (OSM) | Digital evaluation of Class XII answer sheets via cbse.onmark.co.in; answer sheets scanned, uploaded, marked digitally โ eliminates totalling errors, speeds results, no post-result mark verification needed | Class XII from 2026 |
| DigiLocker Integration | Students access marksheets and certificates digitally via DigiLocker; 6-digit access codes issued through schools from May 2025 | 2025 |
| School Academic Performance Report Card | CBSE releases school-wise performance data; enables transparency and comparison; October 2025 release covered 2024โ25 session | October 2025 |
| CCTV Mandate | High-resolution CCTV with audio-visual recording in all key school areas โ for affiliation compliance and exam integrity monitoring | 2025โ26 |
| Data Analytics for UFM Detection | CBSE in collaboration with Central Square Foundation (CSF) and Playpower Labs โ algorithms analyse answer-sheet patterns to identify suspicious copying/cheating at centre level | Piloted (CTET 2021); extending to board exams |
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Timing | Single shift: 10:30 AM โ 1:30 PM |
| External Observers / Flying Squads | Deployed at sensitive centres; report to CBSE regional offices |
| Question Paper Security | Encrypted digital dispatch to exam centres; physical custody with designated superintendents; opened 15โ30 mins before exam |
| Electronic Devices | Mobile phones, smartwatches strictly banned; possession = current exam cancellation + 2-year ban from all CBSE exams |
| Impersonation Penalty | Current exam cancellation + 3-year ban from all CBSE exams |
| Social Media Misconduct | Spreading paper-leak rumours = IPC action + exam consequences |
| Uniform Requirement | Students must appear in school uniform |
Rohan Mathew vs. CBSE (2018) โ Supreme Court
Bench: CJI Dipak Misra ยท Issue: PIL challenging CBSE's decision to re-conduct Class X Maths and Class XII Economics exams after paper leak. Petitioner argued re-exam violated fundamental rights of uninvolved students. Held: SC declined to interfere โ "It is the discretion of CBSE to conduct re-examination; not within our jurisdiction to direct CBSE not to conduct it." SC also refused a CBI probe, dismissing 5 petitions. Class X Maths re-exam eventually called off as leak found to have limited impact; Class XII Economics re-exam conducted on 25 April 2018.
Social Jurist (NGO) vs. CBSE & Centre (Delhi HC, 2018)
Bench: Acting CJ Gita Mittal & Justice C Hari Shankar ยท Issue: Petition by NGO Social Jurist seeking court-monitored probe into CBSE 2018 paper leak and early scheduling of Class X Maths re-exam. Held: Delhi HC asked CBSE and Centre to clarify their stand on a court-monitored probe. Ultimately, a Delhi Police Crime Branch SIT (Special Investigation Team) investigated โ filed a 482-page chargesheet naming 10 accused including teachers, coaching centre owner, bank officials.
In Re: CBSE Class XII Exams Cancellation 2021 โ Supreme Court
Bench: SC Division Bench ยท Issue: Plea against CBSE and ICSE cancelling Class XII board exams 2021 due to COVID-19. Held: SC dismissed the plea (June 2021); upheld the cancellation and the alternate assessment schemes formulated by both boards. Students given option to appear in exams if unsatisfied with awarded marks. Established that boards have discretion to formulate alternate assessment in extraordinary circumstances.
SC on NEET-UG 2024 Paper Leak โ In Re: NEET-UG (SC, July 2024)
Bench: CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala & Manoj Misra ยท Issue: Batch of petitions seeking cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 (24 lakh students, conducted 5 May 2024) amid paper leak allegations, grace marks controversy (1,563 students), 67 full-scorers. Held: SC refused to cancel the examination โ "No material to indicate leak was systemic affecting the sanctity of the entire exam." Ordering re-examination of 23 lakh students would cause cascading consequences on academic calendar. Grace marks of 1,563 students cancelled; offered re-test (23 June 2024). This ruling directly contextualises CBSE's own integrity reforms.
Unnikrishnan J.P. vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (SC, 1993)
Held: Right to education is a Fundamental Right derived from Art. 21 (Right to Life). This judgment created the constitutional basis that led to Art. 21A via the 86th Amendment 2002. Foundational case for all subsequent education governance legislation including RTE 2009.
Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan vs. Union of India (SC, 2012)
Held: RTE Act is constitutionally valid and applies to aided and unaided private schools (except minority institutions). Upheld 25% reservation for disadvantaged children in private unaided schools under RTE Act.
Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust vs. Union of India (SC, 2014)
Held: RTE Act (including 25% reservation mandate) does NOT apply to minority educational institutions (protected under Art. 30). Important limitation on RTE's scope โ CBSE-affiliated minority schools exempt from 25% RTE quota requirement.
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Papers leaked | Class XII Economics (26 March) + Class X Mathematics (28 March) |
| Method | Photos clicked in exam centres, shared via WhatsApp groups (40+ groups traced) |
| Students affected | ~11.86 lakh (XII) + ~16.38 lakh (X) registered students; Class XII Economics re-exam mandatory for Delhi/Haryana students |
| Investigating agency | Delhi Police Crime Branch SIT |
| Chargesheet | 482-page chargesheet filed; 10 accused named โ teachers, coaching owner, bank officials; FIR under Sections 420, 120B, 406, 409, 201 IPC |
| Key accused | Rakesh Kumar (PGT Economics, DAV Centenary School, Una, HP) โ centre superintendent who photographed papers; shared to Tauqeer Hasan (coaching teacher) |
| Insider element | CBSE officer K.S. Rana suspended for alleged lack of supervision at leak origin centre |
| Outcome | Class XII Economics re-exam held 25 April 2018 ยท Class X Maths re-exam NOT held (limited impact assessment) ยท SC dismissed all petitions for CBI probe |
| NEP 2020 Recommendation | CBSE Implementation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Board exams twice a year; "best of two" counts | Class X dual-exam (Feb + May) from 2026; best score from either attempt is final; optional May attempt for improvement | โ Implemented (2026) |
| Competency-based assessment; reduce rote learning | Revised question paper pattern: application, problem-solving, reasoning questions; reduced direct recall questions; Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework | โ Implemented (2024โ26) |
| Mother-tongue instruction (pre-primary to Class II) | CBSE instructed affiliated schools to map students' mother tongue; instruction in familiar regional language from pre-primary to Class II | ๐ In progress |
| Open-Book Assessments (OBA) | Pilot conducted in 2023 (Classes 9โ12). OBAs for Class 9 to be introduced from 2026โ27. Encourages conceptual learning over memorisation. | ๐ Pilot done; roll-out 2026โ27 |
| Skill-based electives | CBSE introduced skill-based electives for Class XII students in curriculum | โ Implemented |
| Digital academic tracking (APAAR) | APAAR ID mandatory via Pariksha Sangam for Classes 9 and 11; overseas schools exempt | โ Mandated 2025โ26 |
| Holistic progress card | Being developed; CBSE released School Academic Performance Report Card (Oct 2025) | ๐ In progress |
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announcement | CBSE officially confirmed 25 June 2025 (following Ministry of Education meeting chaired by Union Education Minister) |
| First attempt (Phase 1) | February โ compulsory for all registered students; results declared April |
| Second attempt (Phase 2) | May โ optional; open to all passed students (to improve any 3 out of 4 subjects: Science, Maths, Social Science, Languages); results declared June |
| Final score | Best result from either attempt is the official score |
| Both are main board exams | Neither attempt is a pre-board or half-yearly; both are official CBSE board exams with full national recognition |
| Special provisions | Athletes, Olympiad participants, differently-abled students, winter-bound region students โ special scheduling provisions |
| Benefits targeted | Over 30 lakh Class X students benefiting; reduces exam stress; aligned with NEP 2020 vision of "joyful learning" |
| Class XII | Continues with ONE annual exam; dual-exam NOT extended to Class XII as of 2026 |
In 2026: Class XII uses On-Screen Marking (digital). Class X evaluation remains in physical mode. Students and teachers have noted concerns about scanning errors and digital glitches โ CBSE conducted live webcasts and mock drills to prepare evaluators.
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Possession / use of electronic device (mobile, smartwatch) in exam hall | Current examination cancelled + 2-year ban from all CBSE exams |
| Impersonation (appearing in someone else's place) | Current examination cancelled + 3-year ban |
| Social media misconduct (spreading paper-leak rumours) | Current year + next year examination cancelled; possible IPC action |
| Copying / use of unauthorised materials | Subject cancellation to full year cancellation depending on gravity |
| School staff complicity | Disaffiliation of school; criminal action under IPC / UFM Act 2024 |
| Connected Concept | Link to CBSE | Key Article/Act/Term |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamental Rights | Right to Education (Art. 21A) underpins CBSE's very existence as a board administering publicly recognised school-leaving certifications | Art. 21A, 86th Amendment 2002 |
| Directive Principles | Art. 45 (free education) & Art. 46 (weaker sections' education) โ original policy basis before Art. 21A was added | Art. 45, Art. 46 |
| Federalism | Education in Concurrent List โ Centre (CBSE) and States (own boards) coexist; Centre prevails in conflict under Art. 254 | Entry 25 (List III), Entry 66 (List I), Art. 254 |
| NEP 2020 | Policy framework mandating CBSE reforms: dual-exam, competency-based assessment, APAAR, OBA, 5+3+3+4 school structure | NEP 2020; Ministry of Education |
| NTA / NEET Crisis (2024) | NEET-UG 2024 paper leak + grace marks controversy โ direct trigger for Public Examinations Act 2024; contextualises CBSE's own integrity concerns | UFM Act 2024; NTA; SC (July 2024) |
| Vyapam Scam | Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam โ systemic exam corruption involving politicians, civil servants; CBI investigation; benchmark of what examination governance failure looks like; cited in UFM Act debates | SC ordered CBI probe; ~2000 accused |
| PISA | India's 2009 PISA rank (72/73) exposed gap between high board marks and actual learning โ credibility challenge for CBSE; NEP 2020 aims to re-align | OECD; PISA 2009 |
| NAS (National Achievement Survey) | MoE's own learning-level assessment; finds <50% average scores โ contrasts with high board pass rates, raising credibility questions | MoE; NAS 2021 |
| Digital India / DigiLocker | CBSE marksheets/certificates accessible via DigiLocker (since 2021); 6-digit access code system from May 2025; digital credential ecosystem | DigiLocker Act; IT Act 2000 |
| Minority Rights (Art. 30) | RTE's 25% reservation mandate does NOT apply to minority educational institutions โ SC (Pramati Trust 2014). CBSE-affiliated minority schools exempt | Art. 30; SC 2014 ruling |
| Right to Privacy (Art. 21) | APAAR ID and biometric data collection raises data privacy questions; subject to data protection framework | Art. 21; DPDP Act 2023 |
| Cooperative Federalism | MoE chaired high-level meetings with States before dual-exam announcement; feedback from teachers, parents, schools โ consultative federalism in education policy | Ministry of Education; NEP 2020 consultation |
CBSE is NOT a Schedule-I authority under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act 2024 โ the Act covers UPSC, SSC, RRB, NTA, IBPS. CBSE board exams fall under CBSE's own UFM Rules and general IPC provisions. This distinction is MCQ-testable.
CBSE announces Class X dual-exam system (25 June 2025): CBSE confirmed Class X board exams will be held twice a year from 2026, implementing NEP 2020's recommendation. Phase 1 (Feb) is compulsory; Phase 2 (May) is optional for improvement. Both are main board exams. Best score from either attempt is the final score. Benefits 30+ lakh students. Union Education Minister called it a "landmark shift towards competency-based assessments."
CBSE introduces On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class XII (announced Feb 12, 2026): CBSE launched digital evaluation of Class XII answer sheets via the cbse.onmark.co.in portal for 2026 exams. Answer books scanned at hubs, evaluated online by teachers from their own schools. Automatic totalling eliminates errors. Post-result mark verification for Class XII discontinued with OSM implementation. CBSE Examination Controller Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj led a live webcast explaining the system. Class X evaluation remains in physical mode for 2026.
CBSE rejects paper-leak allegations for 2025 exams (Feb 17, 2025): As the 2025 board exams began (15 Feb, ~44 lakh students across 7,842 centres), CBSE issued an official circular calling paper-leak claims "baseless" and "aimed at creating unnecessary panic." The Board flagged a viral Instagram video by Physics Wallah founder Alakh Pandey claiming to know paper-setters. CBSE warned of IPC action against rumour-spreaders and initiated monitoring with law enforcement.
APAAR ID and Pariksha Sangam portal made mandatory (2025โ26): CBSE mandated registration through the Pariksha Sangam portal for students in Classes 9 and 11. Each student receives an APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits ID) for digital academic tracking. Overseas CBSE schools are exempt from APAAR ID requirements. DigiLocker integration deepened โ 6-digit school-distributed access codes enable students to access marksheets digitally (May 2025).
CBSE disaffiliates 21 Delhi schools (October 2024): Following surprise inspections in Delhi and Rajasthan, CBSE issued show-cause notices to 27 schools. After reviewing responses, CBSE disaffiliated 21 schools (mostly Delhi) for: large numbers of dummy and non-attending students in higher secondary classes, missing records (admission registers, attendance, service books), and student-teacher ratio violations. Six schools downgraded from senior secondary to secondary level.
CBSE releases School Academic Performance Report Card (October 2025): CBSE published school-wise academic performance data for the 2024โ25 session, enabling transparency and comparison among affiliated schools. This is part of the broader digital governance and accountability framework being built under NEP 2020.
2026 CBSE Board Exams โ Key facts: Class X exams: February 17 โ March 11, 2026. Class XII exams: February 17 โ April 10, 2026. Exams initially rescheduled (Dec 2025 notification) due to exam-date clashes. Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 announced for 2026โ27. Mandatory CCTV with audio-visual recording across all school areas now an affiliation norm. Competency-based question pattern fully in force.
UPSC Prelims 2026 is likely to test: (1) The year CBSE introduced dual-exam for Class X (2026); (2) OSM introduction (Class XII, 2026); (3) UFM Act 2024 (passed February, enforced June 2024); (4) NEET 2024 SC ruling (refused cancellation โ "not systemic"). Each of these is a fact-type question.
| Statement | T/F | Correct Fact |
|---|---|---|
| CBSE was established in 1962 by the Government of India. | โ | Established 1929 (as Board of H.S. and Intermediate Education, Rajputana); present name given in 1952; reconstituted 1 July 1962. The founding year is 1929, not 1962. |
| Article 21A was inserted into the Constitution in 2009 when the RTE Act was passed. | โ | Art. 21A was inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002. The RTE Act came in 2009 to implement Art. 21A; the two are different events. |
| The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 directly governs CBSE board examinations. | โ | The UFM Act 2024 covers UPSC, SSC, RRB, NTA, IBPS โ not CBSE board exams. CBSE board exams are governed by CBSE's own UFM Rules and general IPC provisions. |
| Under the RTE Act 2009, private minority educational institutions are required to reserve 25% seats for disadvantaged children. | โ | SC (Pramati Trust, 2014) held RTE does NOT apply to minority institutions (protected under Art. 30). Only non-minority aided and unaided private schools are covered. |
| In NEET-UG 2024, the Supreme Court cancelled the examination due to paper leaks. | โ | SC refused to cancel NEET-UG 2024 (July 2024). Held that there was "no material to indicate the leak was systemic." Cancelling would harm 23 lakh students. |
| On-Screen Marking (OSM) for CBSE was introduced for both Class X and Class XII in 2026. | โ | OSM introduced only for Class XII in 2026. Class X answer books continue to be evaluated in physical mode in 2026. |
| CBSE Class X board exams will be held twice a year from 2026, with both attempts compulsory. | โ | Phase 1 (February) is compulsory. Phase 2 (May) is optional โ only for passed students wishing to improve scores in up to 3 subjects. |
| Education is a subject exclusively in the Union List of the Constitution. | โ | Education is in the Concurrent List (Entry 25) โ both Centre and States can legislate. Entry 66 (Union List) covers coordination of standards in higher education only. |
| India ranked 73rd (last) in PISA 2009. | โ | India ranked 72nd out of 73 countries in PISA 2009, just above Kyrgyzstan which ranked last. |
| APAAR ID (Academic Bank of Credits ID) is mandatory for overseas CBSE-affiliated schools. | โ | Overseas CBSE schools are exempt from APAAR ID requirements. Only India-based CBSE affiliated schools must register students via Pariksha Sangam for APAAR ID. |
Options may say CBSE was established in "1952" or "1962" โ 1929 is the correct founding year (as a precursor board). The name "CBSE" was given in 1952, and it was reconstituted in its modern form on 1 July 1962. Know all three dates and what each refers to.
Art. 21A (inserted 2002) โ RTE Act (passed 2009, enforced 1 April 2010). Many students confuse these. The Amendment created the right; the Act implemented it. Three separate events: 86th Amendment (2002) โ RTE Act passed (2009) โ RTE enforced (1 April 2010).
UFM Act 2024 does NOT cover CBSE board exams. It covers recruitment exams (UPSC, SSC, Railways) and entrance tests (NEET, JEE, CUET under NTA). CBSE has its own UFM Rules under which impersonation = 3-year ban and electronic device = 2-year ban.
OSM (On-Screen Marking) introduced for Class XII only in 2026. Class X evaluation remains physical. Also note: post-result mark verification for Class XII is DISCONTINUED with OSM โ another testable fact often stated incorrectly.
RTE Act's 25% reservation for EWS/disadvantaged children does NOT apply to minority educational institutions (Art. 30 protection; SC 2014). Many aspirants assume RTE applies to all schools โ it does not apply to minority institutions.
CISCE (ICSE/ISC board) is a private, non-governmental body. CBSE is a government body under Ministry of Education. NTA (National Testing Agency, est. 2017) conducts NEET, JEE, CUET โ it is an autonomous body under Ministry of Education, different from CBSE. All three are sometimes listed together in options.
Original RTE Act 2009 prohibited holding back students (no detention) until completion of elementary education. This was amended in 2019 โ now detention is permitted for Class V and Class VIII if students fail and do not clear re-examinations. Do not state the original no-detention policy as currently applicable.
| Case | Year | Key Holding |
|---|---|---|
| Unnikrishnan J.P. vs. State of AP | 1993 | Right to Education = Fundamental Right derived from Art. 21 โ led to Art. 21A |
| TMA Pai Foundation vs. Union of India | 2002 | Rights of private unaided educational institutions; autonomy in admissions |
| Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan vs. UoI | 2012 | RTE Act + 25% reservation upheld as constitutionally valid |
| Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust vs. UoI | 2014 | RTE Act does NOT apply to minority institutions (Art. 30 protection) |
| Rohan Mathew vs. CBSE (SC 2018) | 2018 | SC refused to stop CBSE re-examination after paper leak; upheld CBSE's discretion |
| CBSE 2021 Exam Cancellation Case (SC) | 2021 | SC upheld CBSE/ICSE cancellation of Class XII exams during COVID; alternate criteria upheld |
| In Re: NEET-UG 2024 (SC) | 2024 | SC refused to cancel NEET-UG 2024; leak "not systemic"; reinforced integrity reform need |