CBSE Implements Assessment Changes in Alignment with NEP 2020; NCERT Announces Textbook Updates

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced modifications in assessment and evaluation methods to synchronize with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Notably, Class 11 and 12 board exams will now feature a higher proportion of competency-based questions and fewer constructed response queries.

Under the revised guidelines, competency-focused questions, including MCQs, case-based questions, and source-based integrated questions, will constitute 50% of the assessment in Class 11 and 12, up from the previous 40%. Conversely, the share of constructed response questions, such as short and long answer types, has been reduced from 40% to 30% for the academic session 2024-25. The proportion of select response type questions (MCQs) remains unchanged at 20%.

CBSE emphasized its commitment to fostering an educational environment that prioritizes critical thinking, creativity, and system-based learning over rote memorization. In an official notice, the Board underscored the importance of nurturing students' capacities to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) announced the forthcoming availability of new textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. Textbooks for Class 3 are slated to be accessible by April 2024, followed by those for Class 6 by mid-May 2024. Additionally, NCERT revealed that over 1.21 crore copies of the 2023-2024 editions for various classes have been released, with buffer stocks prepared for Classes 4, 5, 9, and 11.

Further extending accessibility, NCERT highlighted the availability of digital copies of all textbooks on platforms such as the NCERT portal, DIKSHA, and the ePathshala portal and app. This move aims to facilitate seamless access to educational resources for students across the nation.