Central Board of Secondary Education

2026-04-15T09:46:56Z

180.151.226.70:

{{short description|School education board in India}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Central Board of Secondary Education
| image = CBSE new logo.svg
| image_alt = Logo of Central Board of Secondary Education
| abbreviation = CBSE
| image_size = 150px
| caption = [[Seal (emblem)|Seal]] of the Central Board of Secondary Education
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|p=y|1962|07|01}}<ref>https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/exams/story/cbse-110115-2012-07-17</ref>
| type = Governmental Board of Education
| status = Active
| headquarters = [[New Delhi, India]]
| affiliations = 29,179 schools (2024)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cbseit.in/cbse/web/Tinfo/OasisDasboardA.aspx | title=CBSE - Central Board of Secondary Education }}</ref>
| leader_title = Chairperson
| leader_name = Rahul Singh, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=Rahul Singh IAS appointed CBSE chairperson |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/senior-bureaucrat-rahul-singh-appointed-new-cbse-chief/articleshow/108470001.cms |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=The economic Times|language=en-US}}</ref>
| parent_organisation = [[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Education]]
| language = {{hlist|[[Hindi]]|[[English language|English]]}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.cbse.gov.in}}
}}

The '''Central Board of Secondary Education''' ('''CBSE''') is a national-level board of education in India for public and private schools, controlled and managed by the [[Government of India]]. Established in 1929 by a government resolution, the Board was an experiment in inter-state integration and cooperation in the sphere of secondary education. There are more than 27,000 schools in India and 240 schools in 28 foreign countries affiliated with the CBSE. All schools affiliated with CBSE follow the [[NCERT]] curriculum, especially those in classes 9 to 12. The current Chairperson of CBSE is Rahul Singh, [[Indian Administrative Service|IAS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-13 |title=Senior bureaucrat Rahul Singh has been appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/senior-bureaucrat-rahul-singh-appointed-new-cbse-chief/articleshow/108470001.cms |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=The Economic Times |language=en}}</ref>

The constitution of the Board was amended in 1952 to give its present name, the Central Board of Secondary Education. The Board was reconstituted on 1 July 1962 to make its services available to students and various educational institutions across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/cbse.html|title = CBSE - Central Board of Secondary Education}}</ref>

==History==
The first education board to be set up in India was the [[Uttar Pradesh]] Board of High School and Intermediate Education in 1921, which was under the jurisdiction of [[Rajasthan]], Central India and [[Gwalior]]. In 1929, the government of India established a joint Board, the Board of High School and Intermediate Education. In 1962, The board was reconstituted to extend its services, merging with the '''Delhi Board of Higher Secondary Education''' and thus it became the Central Board of Secondary Education.<ref>https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/exams/story/cbse-110115-2012-07-17</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=History (and the Expansion) of the Central Board of Secondary Examination|url=http://www.studypost.com/history-expansion-central-board-secondary-examination|access-date=16 December 2017|publisher=studypost.com|date=16 December 2017|archive-date=20 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070007/http://www.studypost.com/history-expansion-central-board-secondary-examination/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Languages ==
CBSE offers academic subjects in 40 different languages, which are [[Arabic]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]], [[Bahasa Melayu]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhutia language|Bhutia]], [[Bodo language|Bodo]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Gurung language|Gurung]], [[Hindi|Hindi Course-A, Hindi Course-B]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Kannada]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]], [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]], [[Limboto language|Limboo]], [[Malayalam-language|Malayalam]], [[Meitei language|Meitei]] ([[Manipuri language|Manipuri]]), [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Mizo language|Mizo]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Rai Languages|Rai]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Sherpa language|Sherpa]], [[Tamang language|Tamang]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Tangkhul language|Tangkhul]], [[Telugu language|Telugu AP]], [[Telugu language|Telugu Telangana]], [[Thai language|Thai]], [[Tibetan language (standard)|Tibetan]], [[Urdu|Urdu Course A]] and [[Urdu|Urdu Course B]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBSE {{!}} Academics Unit : Curriculum/Syllabus |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum.html |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=cbseacademic.nic.in}}</ref>

==Affiliations==
CBSE affiliates all [[Kendriya Vidyalaya]]s, all [[Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas|Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya]], private schools, and most of the schools approved by the [[central government of India]]. All [[Delhi Government|State Government]] schools in Delhi are affiliated with CBSE. There are 1,138 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 3,011 Government Schools, 16,741 Independent Schools, 595 Jawahar Novodaya Vidyalayas and 14 Central Tibetan Schools.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=CBSE introduction|url=https://cbse.nic.in/newsite/aboutCbse.html}}</ref>

==Examinations==
CBSE conducts the final examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 every year in February and March. The results are announced by the end of May.<ref>{{cite news|title=CBSE Results Announcement Dates: Class 12 on May 25, Class 10 on May 27|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2015/05/cbse-results-announcement-dates-class-12-on-may-25-class-10-on-may-27/|access-date=23 May 2015|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|date=23 May 2015}}</ref> The board earlier conducted the [[All India Engineering Entrance Examination|AIEEE]] Examination for admission to undergraduate courses in engineering and architecture in colleges across India, however, the AIEEE exam was merged with the IIT-[[Joint Entrance Examination|Joint Entrance Exam (JEE)]] in 2013. The standard examination is now called JEE (Main) and is henceforth conducted by [[National Testing Agency]].

CBSE also conducted [[AIPMT]] (All India Pre-Medical Test) for admission to major medical colleges in India. In 2014, the conduct of the National Eligibility Test for the grant of a junior research fellowship and eligibility for an assistant professor in institutions of higher learning was outsourced to CBSE.<ref name="Exams conducted by CBSE" />

Apart from these tests, CBSE also conducts the [[Teacher Eligibility Test#Central Teacher Eligibility Test|Central Teacher Eligibility Test]] and the Class X optional proficiency test.<ref name="Exams conducted by CBSE">{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/After-UGCs-failure-CBSE-to-conduct-NET/articleshow/38950641.cms | title=After UGC's failure, CBSE to conduct NET | website=[[The Times of India]] | date=24 July 2014 | access-date=24 July 2014}}</ref>
With the addition of NET in 2014, the CBSE became the largest exam-conducting body in the world.<ref name="Exams conducted by CBSE" /><ref name="NET to be held under CBSE’s watch">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/net-to-be-held-under-cbses-watch/article6240205.ece | title=NET to be held under CBSE's watch | work=The Hindu | date=23 July 2014 | access-date=24 July 2014| last1=Joshua | first1=Anita }}</ref>

On 10 November 2017, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared a proposal to create a National Testing Agency (NTA) as the premier autonomous body for conducting entrance examinations in the country. Beginning in 2018, various exams previously conducted by the CBSE were transferred to the NTA, including [[National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)]], [[Joint Entrance Examination – Main]], [[National Eligibility Test]], [[Central Universities Common Entrance Test]] and others.

<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Testing Agency|url=https://www.nta.ac.in/|access-date=2020-06-07|website=www.nta.ac.in}}</ref> In 2025, CBSE decided to conduct two board examinations from the academic year 2025–26 to ease the pressure on students. CBSE has also rationalised much of the content in its syllabus after the COVID period to ease the children

== Promotion criteria ==

=== Class 10 ===
{{See also|All India Secondary School Examination}}
For promotion from the Secondary level (Class IX-X) to the Senior Secondary level (Class XI-XII), a student must obtain, for all subjects (or best five if six subjects are taken), 33% overall, without any minimum theory mark requirement. Initially, the passing criteria were set such that a student had to get 33% in ''both'' the theory and practical components. However, an exemption was initially granted to students who wrote the exam in 2018, as they had gone through the old CCE system the previous year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/cbse-revises-pass-percent-for-current-class-10-batch/story-SySB8BLlILo4CozRrZ2siL.html|title=CBSE says overall 33% marks enough to pass Class 10 this year|date=2018-02-27|work=hindustantimes.com|access-date=2018-08-25|language=en}}</ref> However, CBSE later extended this relief for students writing the exam from 2019 and later as well.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/cbse-eases-class-10-passing-marks-criteria-as-combined-marks-extended-from-2019-board-exams-1906675.html|title=CBSE Eases Class 10 Passing Marks Criteria as Combined Marks Extended from 2019 Board Exams|work=News18|access-date=2018-10-21}}</ref> Students who do not manage to pass up to two subjects can write the compartment in those subjects in July. Those who fail a compartment or three or more subjects must retake all subjects taken the following year.

=== Class 12 ===
{{See also|All India Senior School Certificate Examination}}
For class 12 students, the promotion criteria are 33% overall, with 33% in "both" theory and practical examinations (if applicable). Students who do not pass exactly one subject can write the compartment for that subject in July. Those who fail a compartment, or who fail two subjects or more, must retake all subjects taken the next year.

== Grading ==
For the Class 10 and Class 12 exams, CBSE (along with the marks obtained) includes the ''positional'' grade, which is based on the average performance of students in that subject. Consequently, the cutoffs required to obtain a particular grade vary from year to year.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Grading system by CBSE<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbse.nic.in/newsite/attach/grading.pdf|title=Grading info |website= cbseacademic.nic.in}}</ref>
!Grade
!Criteria
|-
|A1
|Top 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|A2
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|B1
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|B2
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|C1
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|C2
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|D1
|Next 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|D2
|Last 1/8 of passed students in that subject
|-
|E
|Failed students (in either theory, practical or overall)
|}

The cutoffs required to obtain a particular grade in 2018 are listed below:<ref>Not publicly released by CBSE, but can be verified by looking at students' grades</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Class 12 (2018)
!'''Grade'''
!'''English Core'''
!'''Mathematics'''
!'''Chemistry'''
!'''Physics'''
!'''Biology'''
!'''Biotechnology'''
!'''Engineering Drawing'''
!'''Computer Science'''
!'''Economics'''
!'''Accountancy'''
!'''Business Studies'''
!'''Informatics Practices'''
!'''Multimedia/Web Tech'''
!'''Psychology'''
!'''Sociology'''
|-
|A1
|89
|95
|91
|90
|90
|95
|98
|93
|92
|84
|93
|94
|
|95
|87
|-
|A2
|84
|84
|81
|82
|84
|91
|95
|88
|85
|73
|83
|91
|
|
|78
|-
|B1
|78
|73
|73
|75
|79
|86
|92
|83
|78
|65
|75
|87
|82
|84
|73
|-
|B2
|72
|63
|67
|69
|74
|83
|89
|78
|70
|59
|67
|
|78
|79
|66
|-
|C1
|65
|55
|63
|64
|68
|76
|85
|72
|63
|55
|60
|79
|74
|73
|
|-
|C2
|57
|46
|60
|61
|62
|
|80
|
|55
|49
|
|
|67
|67
|
|-
|D1
|45
|42
|52
|54
|55
|
|
|
|47
|45
|
|
|
|57
|
|-
|D2
|33
|33
| colspan="13" |''Variable (33% theory and practical pass required)''
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Class 10 (2018)
!Grade
!English Language & Literature
!Mathematics
!Science
!Social Science
!Malayalam
!Hindi
!French
|-
|A1
|92
|92
|87
|90
|96
|93
|97
|-
|A2
|87
|81
|76
|82
|93
|88
|95
|-
|B1
|83
|70
|67
|74
|90
|83
|92
|-
|B2
|78
|60
|58
|66
|87
|78
|87
|-
|C1
|73
|50
|49
|58
|84
|72
|82
|-
|C2
|66
|42
|41
|49
|80
|65
|74
|-
|D1
|56
|34
|34
|41
|73
|54
|62
|-
|D2
| colspan="7" |33 (minimum for all subjects)
|}

=== During CCE ===
During 2010–2017, when CBSE implemented a CCE ([[Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation]]) for Class X students, only the grades obtained by the student were mentioned in the report card in a 9-point grading scale, which translates as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Former grading scale (CCE)
!Grade
!Criteria
|-
|A1
|>90%
|-
|A2
|81–90%
|-
|B1
|71–80%
|-
|B2
|61–70%
|-
|C1
|51–60%
|-
|C2
|41–50%
|-
|D
|33–40%
|-
|E1
|21–32%
|-
|E2
|0–20%
|}

== Results ==

=== 2016 ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Number of (passed) students obtaining a particular CGPA in Class 10 by gender<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://cbse.nic.in/attach/Press%20Note%20for%20class%2010th%20-%20Stat.%202016(2).pdf|title=Press Note for Class 10|website=CBSE|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>
|'''CGPA'''
|'''MALE'''
|'''FEMALE'''
|'''TOTAL'''
|-
|10
|85,316
|83,225
|1,68,541
|-
|9.8
|26,313
|24,545
|50,858
|-
|9.6
|28,522
|24,223
|52,745
|-
|9.4
|35,587
|25,882
|61,469
|-
|9.2
|33,674
|25,171
|58,845
|-
|9
|35,167
|26,270
|61,437
|-
|8.8
|36,453
|26,154
|62,607
|-
|8.6
|37,532
|25,945
|63,477
|-
|8.4
|38,590
|25,383
|63,973
|-
|8.2
|37,681
|24,663
|62,344
|-
|8
|38,248
|24,217
|62,465
|-
|7.8
|38,560
|23,607
|62,167
|-
|7.6
|37,804
|22,680
|60,484
|-
|7.4
|36,814
|21,410
|58,224
|-
|7.2
|35,287
|20,497
|55,784
|-
|7
|34,755
|19,803
|54,558
|-
|6.8
|33,824
|18,677
|52,501
|-
|6.6
|32,099
|17,559
|49,658
|-
|6.4
|29,774
|16,428
|46,202
|-
|6.2
|27,367
|15.509
|42,876
|-
|6
|25,542
|14,472
|40,014
|-
|5.8
|22,568
|13,094
|35,662
|-
|5.6
|18,126
|11,128
|29,254
|-
|5.4
|13,206
|8,684
|21,890
|-
|5.2
|9,120
|6,142
|15,262
|-
|5
|6,116
|4,036
|10,152
|-
|4.8
|3,582
|2,360
|5,942
|-
|4.6
|2,074
|1,182
|3,256
|-
|4.4
|893
|527
|1,420
|-
|4.2
|294
|151
|445
|-
|4
|50
|31
|81
|-
|'''TOTAL'''
|'''8,40,938'''
|'''5,73,655'''
|'''14,14,593'''
|-
|'''AVERAGE'''
|'''7.91'''
|'''8.14'''
|'''8.00'''
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Number of (passed) students obtaining a particular CGPA in Class 10 by exam mode<ref name=":0" />
|'''CGPA'''
|'''BOARD'''
|'''SCHOOL'''
|'''TOTAL'''
|-
|10
|92,816
|75,725
|1,68,541
|-
|9.8
|32,372
|18,486
|50,858
|-
|9.6
|32,115
|20,630
|52,745
|-
|9.4
|32,302
|29,167
|61,469
|-
|9.2
|33,725
|25,120
|58,845
|-
|9
|36,361
|25,076
|61,437
|-
|8.8
|36,673
|25,934
|62,607
|-
|8.6
|36,026
|27,451
|63,477
|-
|8.4
|35,232
|28,741
|63,973
|-
|8.2
|35,362
|26,982
|62,344
|-
|8
|35,185
|27,280
|62,465
|-
|7.8
|33,969
|28,198
|62,167
|-
|7.6
|31,825
|28,659
|60,484
|-
|7.4
|29,836
|28,388
|58,224
|-
|7.2
|28,045
|27,739
|55,784
|-
|7
|26,238
|28,320
|54,558
|-
|6.8
|23,913
|28,588
|52,501
|-
|6.6
|21,284
|28,374
|49,658
|-
|6.4
|18,782
|27,420
|46,202
|-
|6.2
|16,785
|26,091
|42,876
|-
|6
|14,365
|25,649
|40,014
|-
|5.8
|12,150
|23,512
|35,662
|-
|5.6
|9,351
|19,903
|29,254
|-
|5.4
|6,861
|15,029
|21,890
|-
|5.2
|4,978
|10,284
|15,262
|-
|5
|3,628
|6,524
|10,152
|-
|4.8
|2,278
|3,664
|5,942
|-
|4.6
|1,236
|2,020
|3,256
|-
|4.4
|549
|871
|1,420
|-
|4.2
|137
|308
|445
|-
|4
|17
|64
|81
|-
|'''TOTAL'''
|'''7,24,396'''
|'''6,90,197'''
|'''14,14,593'''
|-
|'''AVERAGE'''
|'''8.21'''
|'''7.79'''
|'''8.00'''
|}

== Moderation ==
<gallery caption="Mark distributions for each subject and overall average in CBSE Class 12 examinations 2015" widths="350px" heights="350px" mode="packed">
Histogram_depicting_mark_distribution_for_first_subject_in_CBSE_2015_Class_12_examinations.png|Subject 1 mark distribution. Note the unusual peak for 95, 33, and a few other marks and a sudden drop in frequency for 96 marks and above.
Histogram_depicting_mark_distribution_for_second_subject_in_CBSE_2015_Class_12_examinations.png|Subject 2 mark distribution. The peaks still stand.
Histogram_depicting_mark_distribution_for_third_subject_in_CBSE_2015_Class_12_examinations.png|Subject 3 mark distribution. The peaks still stand, but fewer students are scoring zero in the exam, which can be attributed to science students who skipped the theory exam having their practical mark alone counted.
Histogram_depicting_mark_distribution_for_fourth_subject_in_CBSE_2015_Class_12_examinations.png|Subject 4 mark distribution. The peaks still stand.
Histogram_depicting_mark_distribution_for_fifth_subject_in_CBSE_2015_Class_12_examinations.png|Subject 5 mark distribution. The peaks still stand, though lower this time, as subjects like [[Computer Science]] do not have any moderation applied.
OUTPUT6.png|Overall average (first five subjects excluding any additional subjects if taken) for the same class and year. The peak on zero marks could mostly be attributed to students who did not show up for the exams at all. The distribution in this case is much more [[normal distribution|normal]] and symmetrical than the individual subjects' distribution.<ref>For the [https://github.com/Leader-board/cbse/tree/master/statistics/2015 given dataset], if students took improvement exams (i.e, rewrote them) and hence wrote fewer than five subjects, the average of those subjects alone were taken. In all other cases, like absenteeism in an exam for which the student has been registered, a score of 0 is taken in this case. This means that it is not possible to distinguish from the graph - though it is from the dataset - whether a student actually scored zero or did not show up for the exam itself.</ref>
</gallery>
It is the practice adopted by CBSE of "tweaking" candidates' marks to account for paper difficulties and variations. This has been criticized in the past for inflating students' marks in a hyper-competitive society where even one mark counts,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/cbse-result-2018-the-curious-case-of-magic-mark-95-1744071.html|title=CBSE Result 2018: The Curious Case of 'Magic Mark 95'|date=27 May 2018}}</ref> and CBSE is in the process of ending it.{{when|date=February 2019}} In 2017, CBSE informed that it would end moderation entirely, but its decision was challenged by a court case at the Delhi High Court, which ruled that moderation should continue for that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/cbse-moderation-row-board-awarded-up-to-11-grace-marks-in-this-years-class-12th-exams-3508967.html|title=CBSE moderation row: Board awarded up to 11 extra marks in this year's Class 12th exams – Firstpost|website=firstpost.com|date=2 June 2017}}</ref>

Except for 2018, moderation was applied to account for variations in region sets (as then students in different regions would be answering different question papers). In 2018, when everyone around the world answered the same questions,<ref>This article shows evidence that CBSE reverted to the past practice in 2019: Chakrabarty, Roshni (7 March 2019). [https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/cbse-class-10-mathematics-paper-analysis-board-examiner-comments-student-reactions-full-maths-question-paper-1472305-2019-03-07 "CBSE Class 10 Mathematics paper analysis: Board examiner says moderate paper, check student reactions and full question paper."] ''IndiaToday.in''. Retrieved 12 August 2019.</ref> This practice was renamed as ''standardisation,'' with the CBSE gradually phasing out the practice with the reduction in subjects that were given the offset.

In 2018, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Accountancy were given a +9 offset, Business Studies a +6, and English a +3. In 2019, moderation gave up to 11 extra marks:<ref name=":1">5; if so, it is ''capped'' at 95 unless the student's actual mark is 96 or more. This is the reason a mark of 95 is relatively common for such subjects and why it is much tougher to get 96 than to get a 95.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto"
|+Offset applied for CBSE Class 12 exams (Delhi)<ref name=":1" /> [0 = no moderation]
!Subject
!Offset (2019)
!Offset (2018)
!Offset (2017)
!Offset (2016)
|-
|Mathematics
|11
|9
|10
|15
|-
|Physics
|11
|9
|9
|8
|-
|Chemistry
|10
|9
|9
|7
|-
|Biology
|5
|0
|3
|0
|-
|Political Science
|6
|0
|5
|5
|-
|Economics
|5
|0
|3
|6
|-
|Business Studies
|5
|6
|6
|11
|-
|Sociology
|2
|0
|0
|6
|-
|Geography
|1
|0
|0
|8
|}

The total mark obtained by a student through moderation cannot exceed 95; if it does, it is "capped" at 95 unless the student's actual mark is 96 or higher. This is why a mark of 95 is relatively common for such subjects and why it is "much" tougher to get 96 than to get 95.

Moderation was also applied in the infamous CBSE Class 12 mathematics papers of 2015 and 2016, which created a huge furore as students and teachers complained that the exams were too harsh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/03/16/cbse-maths-paper_n_9474882.html|title=A CBSE Math Paper So Tough, It Made Students Cry|date=16 March 2016}}</ref> Despite a reportedly heavy offset of +16 (+15 for Delhi),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-with-no-more-marks-moderation-cbse-class-xii-results-du-cutoffs-likely-to-dip-381995|title=With no more 'marks moderation', CBSE Class XII results likely to dip; will bring down DU cutoffs|date=18 May 2017}}</ref> students' marks reduced (especially for 2016), as while the A1 cutoff was stable (90), the A2 cutoff reduced to 77, with other grades also experiencing a dip in cutoff.

Moderation can also take the form of giving ''grace'' marks to enable students who have scored near the pass mark to pass. This is why marks between 25 and 33 are unheard of in subjects like Mathematics, and it also explains why the difference between the D1 and D2 cutoffs is sometimes minimal.

== Changes for the 2019 exam ==
For the 2019 exam, CBSE decided that vocational exams (which very few students take) would be held earlier, in mid/late February, rather than in March for most other exams. This was to ensure the exams were finished earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/cbse-10th-12th-board-exams-2019-date-sheet-released-check-it-here/story-WBXBxmKzWj2jGOQjQwX7cK.html|title=CBSE 10th, 12th board exams 2019 date sheet released, check it now|date=2018-12-23|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Notifications/2018/17b_Notification_2018.pdf |title=Info |date=2018 |website=cbseacademic.nic.in }}</ref>

For many core subjects, the number of internal choices (where students pick one answer from two) was increased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Notifications/2018/33_Notification_2018.pdf |title=Info |date=2018 |website=cbseacademic.nic.in }}</ref>
The English (Core) paper of Class 12 was modified in a bid to make it less 'speedy'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Notifications/2018/30_Notification_2018.pdf |title=Notification |date=2018 |website=cbseacademic.nic.in }}</ref>

== Changes for 2020 exam ==
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now conduct two separate Mathematics examinations in the class 10 board examination, starting from the 2020 session. The current Mathematics exam is called Mathematics (Standard), and an easier version, Mathematics (Basic), has been introduced. Students taking the latter version may not study Mathematics to any further level.

The option to choose mathematics will be available on the registration form for the Class 10 CBSE board examination. Candidates will be required to select their test choice while filling out the registration form for the CBSE Class 10 board examination 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/education/cbse-class-10-exam-2020-2-separate-examination-to-be-held-for-mathematics-119081000615_1.html|title = CBSE Class 10 exam 2020: 2 separate examinations to be held for mathematics|newspaper = Business Standard India|date = 10 August 2019|last1 = Team|first1 = BS Web}}</ref>

[[Minister of Human Resource Development|Minister of Education]], MoE (previously Minister of Human Resource Department, HRD), amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus outbreak]] had ordered rescheduling of pending examinations. The exams rescheduled were to be conducted between 1 and 15 July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/cbse-board-exam-2020-major-update-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19-2197031|title=CBSE Board Exams Postponed Over Coronavirus Outbreak|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-19|title=CBSE Board Class 10, 12 Exam Date Sheet 2020 HIGHLIGHTS: 'Step is inappropriate', parents oppose move|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-board-class-10-12-exam-date-sheet-2020-released-live-updates-cbse-nic-in-6415223/|access-date=2020-06-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On 26 June, CBSE released as circular which cancelled the remaining exams and give scores based on the scores of the exams already taken by students. Some students of Delhi who were able to provide three or fewer exams were scored as per their performance in internal exams.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bharadwaj|first=Dr Shayam|date=25 June 2020|title=CBSE/CE/SPS/2020|language=en|work=CBSE|publisher=CBSE|url=http://cbse.nic.in/newsite/attach/Notification%20dt.%2025.06.2020.pdf|access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> This decision came after a judicial ruling.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=सीबीएसई 10वीं-12वीं के जुलाई में होने वाले एग्जाम रद्द होंगे, जानिए अब स्टूडेंट्स के पास क्या हैं विकल्प|url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/career/cbse-board-exam-cancel-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-cbse-10th-and-12th-pending-exam-cancel-know-everything-here-3154324.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=News18 India}}</ref>

== Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on 2021 and 2022 exams ==
{{expand section|date=April 2021}}
Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, the CBSE cancelled the 10th class board exams and postponed the 12th class exams.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-14|title=CBSE Board Exams 2021: Class 10 exams cancelled, Class 12 postponed|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/board-exams/cbse-board-exams-2021-for-class-10-cancelled-class-12-postponed-101618382853043.html|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

Like the 10th, Class 12th Board Exam 2021 has also been cancelled. Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] decided on this after a long meeting on 1 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Covid-19: Centre cancels CBSE Class 12 exams, CISCE follows suit - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/centre-cancels-class-12-board-exams-after-review-meeting-chaired-by-pm-modi/articleshow/83149309.cms|access-date=2021-06-02|website=The Times of India|date=2 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=12th Board Exam 2021 LIVE Updates: CBSE, ISC 12th Exam Cancelled; Assessment Criteria Soon|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/cbse-class-12-board-exam-2021-live-updates-cisce-icse-supreme-court-hearing-final-decision-announced-latest-news/amp|access-date=2021-06-02|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

Later, in a letter dated 5 July 2021, CBSE announced a special assessment scheme for the board examinations of classes X and XII for the session 2021–22. The academic year was divided into two terms, with approximately 50% of the syllabus in each, to increase the likelihood that the CBSE would conduct boards and avoid relying on schools to declare results.

The Term 1 examination was successfully conducted by CBSE in objective mode from 22 November to 12 December 2021 for Class 10 and from 16 November to 30 December 2021 for Class 12. However, the Term-I examination was criticised by many for having wrong answer keys, tough question papers and wrong or controversial questions, with a question being dropped in [[Sociology]] exam of class 12 and a paragraph in the English Language and Literature exam for class 10 by CBSE following which CBSE dropped the experts who set the Sociology and English paper from paper-setting panels.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-22|title=CBSE drops experts who set Sociology, English paper|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cbse-drops-experts-who-set-sociology-english-paper-7736086/|access-date=2022-01-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The Term 2 examination was conducted from 26 April 2022 for both Class 10 and 12 and ended on 24 May for Class 10 and 15 June for Class 12. The Class 12 results were declared on 22 July 2022, followed by Class 10 results on the same day.

==2018 question paper leak==
In March 2018, reports surfaced that the CBSE Class 10 mathematics and Class 12 economics question papers had been leaked.<ref name=et63513943>{{cite news|title=CBSE paper leak: Board announces re-exam; HRD initiates probe|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbse-orders-re-exam-of-class-xii-economics-class-x-mathematics-papers/articleshow/63513943.cms|access-date=31 March 2018|work=[[The Economic Times]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|date=28 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330024853/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbse-orders-re-exam-of-class-xii-economics-class-x-mathematics-papers/articleshow/63513943.cms|archive-date=30 March 2018}}</ref> In response, CBSE announced that these exams will be cancelled and re-exams will be conducted.<ref name=et63513943 /> However, CBSE later announced that there would be no re-exam for the Class 10 mathematics paper because the paper leak may have been confined to a few alleged beneficiaries.<ref name="NDTV_1832343">{{cite news|author1=Shihabudeen Kunju S|title=No Re-Exam For Class 10 Maths Paper: CBSE|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/cbse-class-10-maths-re-exam-internal-inquiries-indicate-few-beneficiaries-no-re-exam-1832343|access-date=8 April 2018|work=[[NDTV]]|date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404045230/https://www.ndtv.com/education/cbse-class-10-maths-re-exam-internal-inquiries-indicate-few-beneficiaries-no-re-exam-1832343|archive-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

On 7 April 2018, economics teacher Rakesh Kumar and two other employees of a private school in [[Una, Himachal Pradesh]] were arrested for leaking the Class 12 economics paper.<ref name="HT_8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP">{{cite news|last1=Sikdar|first1=Shubhomoy|title=How a Punjab housewife led Delhi cops to source of CBSE Economics paper leak|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/how-a-punjab-housewife-led-delhi-cops-to-source-of-cbse-economics-paper-leak/story-8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP.html|access-date=8 April 2018|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408110406/https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/how-a-punjab-housewife-led-delhi-cops-to-source-of-cbse-economics-paper-leak/story-8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP.html|archive-date=8 April 2018|language=en}}</ref> According to the police, Rakesh Kumar had gone inside the strong room of a bank to pick up packets of computer science question papers but also picked up a packet of economics question paper.<ref name="HT_8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP" /> He asked a student to make a handwritten copy of the question paper (to avoid being traced from the handwriting).<ref name="HT_8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP" /> He then sent photos of the handwritten copy of the paper on [[WhatsApp]] to a relative in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]].<ref name="HT_8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP" /> This relative shared the photos with her son and nephew, who shared them with their friends on WhatsApp groups, from where it was forwarded to other WhatsApp groups.<ref name="HT_8CSULY1YpP9zSUh0ZUIOaP" /> On 12 April 2018, the police said that Rakesh Kumar, who leaked the class 12 economics paper, had leaked class 10 mathematics paper also.<ref name="bs_118041200431_1">{{cite news|title=Una teacher leaked both CBSE economics and maths question papers: Police|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/una-teacher-leaked-both-cbse-economics-and-maths-question-papers-police-118041200431_1.html|access-date=12 April 2018|work=[[Business Standard]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412190632/http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/una-teacher-leaked-both-cbse-economics-and-maths-question-papers-police-118041200431_1.html|archive-date=12 April 2018}}</ref> Consequently, the Central Board of Secondary Education has put in place a system of "encrypted" question papers, which are supposed to be printed by the schools half an hour before the exam starts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbse.gov.in/contact.htm |title=Contacts |publisher=CBSE |access-date=2016-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612044924/http://cbse.gov.in/contact.htm |archive-date=12 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== 2026 QR code incident ==
During the 2026 CBSE Class 12 board examinations, the question papers for mathematics exam held on 9 March 2026 attracted widespread attention online after students reported that scanning the QR code printed on the papers redirected users to the music video of "[[Never Gonna Give You Up]]" by [[Rick Astley]]. The unexpected link resembled the internet prank known as [[Rickrolling]]. Images and videos of the question paper circulated on social media following the exam, prompting confusion and humor among students. The CBSE later issued a clarification stating that the mathematics question papers were genuine and that the security of the examination had not been compromised. The board noted that QR codes are included as a security feature to verify the authenticity of examination papers and stated that the issue would be reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-03-10 |title='Rickrolling' in board exam? Class 12 maths paper QR code 'leads' to Rick Astley song, sparks viral buzz; CBSE responds |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/rickrolling-in-board-exam-cbse-class-12-maths-paper-qr-code-leads-to-rick-astley-song-sparks-viral-buzz/articleshow/129375148.cms |access-date=2026-03-10 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Regional offices==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ CBSE Regional Offices<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact Us |url=https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/contact-us.html |website=Central Board of Secondary Education |access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
|-
! Regional Office !! States/UTs/Areas covered
|-
| Ajmer || [[Gujarat]] and [[Rajasthan]]
|-
| Bengaluru || [[Karnataka]]
|-
| Bhopal || [[Madhya Pradesh]]
|-
| Bhubaneswar || [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]] and [[Chhattisgarh]]
|-
| Chandigarh || [[Chandigarh]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] and [[Ladakh]]
|-
| Chennai || [[Andaman & Nicobar Islands]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] and [[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
| Dehradun || [[Uttarakhand]] and a few districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]] (Badaun, Bijnour, J.P.Nagar/ Amroha, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Saharanpur and Sambhal)
|-
| Delhi East || [[East Delhi]], [[South East Delhi]], [[South Delhi]], [[South West Delhi]], [[New Delhi district|New Delhi]] and [[Shahdara district|Shahdara]] districts of [[Delhi]], and foreign schools
|-
| Delhi West || [[West Delhi]], [[North West Delhi]], [[North Delhi]], [[North East Delhi]] and [[Central Delhi]] districts of [[Delhi]]
|-
| Guwahati || [[Assam]], [[Nagaland]], [[Manipur]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Tripura]], [[Sikkim]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Mizoram]]
|-
| Noida || Agra, Aligarh, Baghpat, Bareilly, Bulandshahar, Etah, Firozabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Hathras, Kasganj / Kashi Ram Nagar, Mainpuri, Mathura, Meerut, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Shamli districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|-
| Panchkula || [[Haryana]] and [[Himachal Pradesh]]
|-
| Patna || [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]]
|-
| Prayagraj || Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Auraiya, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Bahraich, Ballia, Balrampur, Banda, Barabanki, Basti, Bhadohi, Chandauli, Chitrkoot, Deoria, Etawah, Farukkhabad, Fatehpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Hardoi, Jalaun, Jaunpur, Jhanshi, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Kaushambi, Kushi Nagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lalitpur, Lucknow, Maharajganj, Mahoba, Mau, Mirjapur, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, RaiBareilly, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shrabasti, Siddharth Nagar, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Sultanpur, Unnao and Varanasi districts of [[Uttar Pradesh]]
|-
| Pune || [[Maharashtra]], [[Goa]] and [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
|-
| Thiruvananthapuram || [[Kerala]] and [[Lakshadweep]]
|-
|Vijayawada
|[[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]]
|}

==Foreign schools==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
According to the official website of CBSE, there are 28 government- and private-affiliated schools in various countries outside India. The reason for their establishment is mainly to serve the Indian community abroad, or at least children or relatives of Indian diplomats.

In countries where the population of Indian nationals surpasses the country's native population or where they form a substantial share of the population, like [[Saudi Arabia]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]], [[Bahrain]], etc., Indian embassies have established CBSE schools and allowed Indians or locals to establish private CBSE schools serving the needs of Indians in those particular countries.

But in countries where Indians do not reside, Indian diplomatic missions have established schools, such as those in [[Russia]] and [[Iran]], which mainly serve the children of diplomats.

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Education}}
*[[All India Senior School Certificate Examination]]
*[[All India Secondary School Examination]]
*[[CBSE expression series]] – an essay/painting competition aimed to make students aware of the history of women and men who have served the nation of India
*[[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (CISCE)
*[[National Council of Educational Research and Training]](NCERT)
*[[NCERT textbook controversies]]
*[[National Institute of Open Schooling]] (NIOS)
*[[Secondary School Leaving Certificate]] (SSLC)
*[[Junior Science Talent Search Examination]]
*[[Uttarakhand Board of School Education]] (UBSE)
*[[National Public School Group of Educational Institutions]] (NPS)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}
{{School education in India}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Central Board of Secondary Education| ]]
[[Category:Secondary education in India]]
[[Category:High school course levels]]
[[Category:School accreditors]]
[[Category:Ministry of Education (India)]]
[[Category:Educational organizations established in 1962]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Delhi]]

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