The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will allow Class 12 students to use basic, non-programmable calculators during the Accountancy board exam starting from the 2025–26 academic session. Alongside this move, the board is also gearing up for a comprehensive revision of its curriculum to align with evolving academic needs and global standards.
In a significant move aimed at easing the burden on students, CBSE will allow the use of basic, non-programmable calculators during the Class 12 Accountancy exam from the 2025-26 academic year. The objective is to reduce students’ cognitive load, promote analytical thinking, and align with international practices, while supporting the National Education Policy’s focus on higher-order skills. The board will issue clear guidelines on permitted calculator models to ensure fairness and prevent misuse of advanced devices.
CBSE plans to pilot an On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for subjects with lower enrollment from the 2024-25 session. This system involves scanning and digitally evaluating answer sheets to streamline the evaluation process, improve efficiency, and reduce logistical delays.
Additionally, the re-evaluation process will be overhauled. Instead of multiple steps—marks verification, photocopy requests, and re-evaluation—students can now directly request answer sheet photocopies. After reviewing them, they may apply for re-evaluation or mark verification, simplifying the process.
From the 2026-27 session, Class 10 students will take science and social science board exams at two levels: standard and advanced. Exams for both levels will be held on the same day, with the advanced-level paper including supplementary questions designed to assess deeper conceptual understanding. A common core curriculum will be retained, with additional content added for advanced-level learners.
CBSE plans to extensively revise the Class 11 and 12 Applied Mathematics curriculum in two phases—Class 11 in 2025 and Class 12 in 2026—to better serve its target group.
From 2026-27, a systematic comparison of CBSE syllabi with international boards will take place every three years. The comparison will focus on core subjects, pedagogical approaches, curriculum design, and assessment methods to keep CBSE on par with global standards.
To ensure fair evaluation in skill-based subjects, CBSE will engage an independent external agency with expertise in vocational training and industry standards. This agency will evaluate students from Classes 6 to 10, promoting unbiased and standardized assessments.
The curriculum for skill subjects will also be revised and rationalized to match instructional time, learning objectives, and updated teaching methods. The updated syllabus is expected to be introduced from 2026-27.
Currently, over 17 lakh Class 10 and 2.5 lakh Class 12 students are enrolled in skill subjects across thousands of CBSE-affiliated schools.