CBSE Revises Class 10 Exam Rules
Students appearing for the 2028 board examinations will have five compulsory papers, while vocational skill subjects will offer an alternative in specified failure cases.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has revised its Scheme of Studies for students who will appear for the Class 10 board examinations in 2028. The clarification applies to students currently studying in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session and progressing to Class 10 in 2027-28. The existing scheme will continue for students appearing in the 2027 board examinations.
Under the revised structure, students will appear for board examinations in five compulsory subjects: two languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. However, they will continue studying nine compulsory curricular subjects overall, including a third language, Art Education, Physical Education and Well-being, and Vocational Education.
Vocational Education will remain compulsory, with students able to choose either Kaushal Vikas or one of the 22 skill subjects notified by the Board. These subjects include Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, Data Science, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare, Banking and Insurance, Tourism and Design Thinking and Innovation.
Students selecting one of the 22 notified skill subjects will have to appear for its Class 10 board examination. The marks and grades will be included in the CBSE marksheet, and students who pass will also receive certification under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
The skill subject also provides a replacement option in specified circumstances. If a student passes the selected skill subject but fails to secure the minimum qualifying marks in Mathematics, Science or Social Science, the skill subject can replace the failed subject for calculating the board examination result. This facility is available for students choosing one of the 22 notified skill subjects, not those opting for Kaushal Vikas.
Students choosing Kaushal Vikas will instead undergo school-based internal assessment and will not have to take a separate board examination in that subject. Schools will issue certificates to students who secure at least 33 per cent marks in the internal assessment.
CBSE has also clarified that Individuals in Society and the Modules on Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence will not be part of the Class 9 curriculum for the 2026-27 batch. Environmental Education will also be excluded from the Class 10 curriculum for the 2027-28 batch. The Board said the changes are intended to align the introduction of these curricular areas with their implementation schedule.
The revised provisions are intended to provide clarity to students, parents and schools ahead of the 2028 board examinations, while retaining vocational learning as a compulsory part of the curriculum.