April 27, 2026
Schooling

CBSE 2025–26 Updates Simplified: What Every Parent Needs to Know

CBSE is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. Driven by NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, a series of major policy changes are being phased in across 2025 and 2026. If you’re a parent, here’s your guide to what’s actually changing and what it means for your child.

1. Board Exams Twice a Year (Class 10)

Starting 2025–26, Class 10 board exams will be conducted twice a year, once in February and once in May.

  • Both exams will cover the full year’s syllabus
  • A student’s best score from either attempt is counted
  • This acts as a genuine safety net: if your child has a bad day, falls ill or underperforms in the first attempt, they can try again without losing an entire academic year

What this means for parents: Encourage your child to take the first attempt seriously, but use the second as confident reinforcement rather than a last resort.

2. Internal Assessments Now Carry 40% Weightage

This is one of the biggest structural shifts.

  • Internal Assessments (IA): 40% of total marks
  • Board Exam: 60% of total marks

Internal assessments include class tests, assignments, projects, practicals and oral assessments, all conducted throughout the year.

What this means for parents: The single high‑pressure exam is no longer the only thing that matters. Consistent classroom engagement, project work and regular preparation now count meaningfully towards your child’s final score.

3. New Question Paper Pattern

The structure of CBSE question papers has shifted decisively away from rote learning.

Question TypeWeightage
Objective‑type questions (MCQs, assertion‑reason, etc.)50%
Competency‑based questions (application, analysis)30%
Short and long answer questions20%

The number of long‑answer questions is being reduced. The focus is now on understanding and applying concepts, not reproducing them.

What this means for parents: Textbook memorisation alone will not be enough. Help your child practise applying concepts, interpreting data and thinking through problems.

4. Mandatory 75% Attendance

Students must attend at least 75% of classes during the academic year to be eligible to sit for board examinations. This rule is being strictly enforced.

What this means for parents: Track your child’s attendance regularly. Inform the school in advance about planned absences and obtain medical documentation for health‑related absences to protect eligibility.

5. Skill‑Based Subjects Now Compulsory (Class 10)

From April 2025, Class 10 students must choose one of three skill subjects:

  • Computer Applications
  • Information Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence

This ensures every student graduates Class 10 with foundational digital skills, regardless of stream.

What this means for parents: If your child hasn’t already selected one of these, confirm with the school which is best suited to their interests and future direction.

6. Stream Flexibility: No More Rigid Arts/Science/Commerce Boxes

One of NEP 2020’s most parent‑friendly reforms: the strict boundaries between Arts, Science and Commerce are being removed.

  • Students can now mix subjects across traditional streams
  • A child can study Physics and History together, or combine Maths with Fashion Studies or Fine Arts
  • This allows genuinely personalised subject combinations that match each child’s interests and career goals

What this means for parents: Have an honest conversation with your child about what they actually enjoy and are good at, not just what fits a conventional stream.

7. Basic Maths Students Can Now Take Standard Maths in Class 11

A significant relief for many families.

  • Students who opted for Basic Mathematics (241) in Class 10 can now choose Mathematics Standard (041) in Class 11, effective 2025–26
  • This removes the earlier barrier that locked students out of certain streams based on their Class 10 Maths choice

8. Mandatory APAAR ID

CBSE has made the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) mandatory for all students.

This is a digital academic identity that stores a student’s credits, records and achievements across institutions, important as education becomes more modular and credits become transferable.

What this means for parents: Ensure your child’s APAAR ID is generated and registered through their school.

9. Digital Evaluation and Stronger Exam Security

CBSE is progressively moving towards on‑screen digital evaluation of answer sheets. Additionally, biometric verification at exam centres may be introduced to strengthen exam integrity.

10. New Electives from 2026: AI and Design Thinking

Starting 2026, CBSE will introduce Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking as additional elective subjects, reinforcing the board’s shift towards future‑ready, skills‑first learning.

What Parents Should Do Right Now?

  • Confirm your child’s subject choices and APAAR ID registration with the school
  • Understand how internal assessments are being conducted and graded in your child’s school
  • Encourage regular, consistent study habits, 40% IA weightage rewards students who show up every day, not just before exams
  • Discuss stream flexibility options early, especially for students heading into Class 9 or 11
  • Stay updated through CBSE’s official website: https://www.cbse.gov.in

These reforms signal a genuine shift, from marks‑first to learning‑first. For students who engage consistently, think critically and embrace flexibility, the new CBSE framework is a significant opportunity.

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