Lok Sabha Question No. 2587 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Change of Examination Pattern in CBSE
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad

## 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.