Parliament Question: Change of Examination Pattern in CBSE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2587 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 Change of Examination Pattern in CBSE

2587. Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare:

Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:

Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh:

Smt. Supriya Sule:

Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:

Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the proposed changes in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Board examination pattern from 2026 under National Education Policy (NEP) driven reforms, including competency-based assessments and revised evaluation methods in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the number of CBSE-affiliated schools and students in Maharashtra who are likely to affected by the revised examination structure and continuous assessment framework;

(c) whether adequate teacher training, curriculum alignment and examination preparedness support have been provided to CBSE schools in the State, particularly in semi-urban and rural districts, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any concerns have been raised by parents, students and school authorities in the said State regarding transition timelines, syllabus changes and evaluation methods; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure that the new exam pattern is implemented smoothly in the State without causing academic stress, learning gaps or inequity between urban and rural CBSE schools? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a): Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced the Two-Board examination policy for Class-X from 2026 Examinations where Class-X students have a second opportunity to improve their performance in upto 03 subjects. As per recommendations of NEP 2020, Competency based questions in CBSE class X and XII Board Examinations have been progressively increasing by 10% every year from 2020 onwards with about 50% questions being Competency Based in the year 2025 and onward.

There has been no change in CBSE Examination pattern from 2026 w.r.t. Competency Based Assessment. CBSE has introduced Digital Evaluation for Class XII Answer Books.(b): Total Number of CBSE affiliated schools in the state of Maharashtra is 1723. The total number of registered candidates for class X is 1,27,281 and for class XII is 39,495 for Examinations 2026.

(c): CBSE has provided adequate support to its affiliated school for examination preparedness through circulars and guidelines issued from time to time. Kindly refer to circulars dated

25.06.2025, 27.08.2025, 09.09.2025, 15.09.2025, 01.12.2025, 09.02.2026 & 14.02.2026.

Links for circulars: -

Circular dated 25.06.2025: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Notification_Two_Board_Examinations_Class _X_2026_25062025.pdf

Circular dated 27.08.2025: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/LOC_2526_27082025.pdf

Circular dated 09.09.2025: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Critical_Dates_09092025.pdf

Circular dated 15.09.2025: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Special_Provisions_Participating_Sports_Event s_15092025.pdf

Circular dated 01.12.2025: - (https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Guidelines_SOP_Practical_Examination_0112

2025.pdf

Circular dated 09.02.2026: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/OASIS_data_updation_teachers_OSM_090220

26.pdf

Circular dated 14.02.2026: -

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/Digital_Evaluation_Class_Answer_Books_Mo ck_14022026.pdf

(d): Concerns regarding transition timelines for Two Board Policy for Class X 2026 have been addressed by announcing the policy in June 2025 and making students, parents and schools aware through circulars and webinars. For digital evaluation, continuous mock evaluation is being conducted for schools and teachers to make them well versed before actual evaluation begins. There has been no change in the syllabus for the 2026 class X and class XII Board Examinations.

(e): CBSE is a National Board and 32,557 schools in India & 26 countries are affiliated to it.

All policies are accordingly implemented by the CBSE in all its affiliated schools. Policies as mentioned in part (a) above have also been implemented in all affiliated schools. Two Board Examination policy in class X is based on the recommendations of NEP2020 and to de stress the students from the fear of Examinations without causing learning gaps or inequality between rural & urban CBSE schools.

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