CBSE clarifies 2028 Class 10 exam plan: five compulsory subjects, skill paper as safety net
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified the examination structure for the 2028 Class 10 board exams. Students will have five compulsory board-examination subjects and the option of an additional skill paper, which can help them clear the examination if they fail in mathematics, science or social science.
The clarification applies to students who are in Class 9 in the 2026-27 academic year and will appear for their Class 10 board examination in 2028. It does not affect the current Class 10 batch.
Under the scheme, the five compulsory board-exam subjects will be two languages, mathematics, science and social science. Students will, however, study nine compulsory curricular subjects. These include a third language, art education, physical education and well-being, and vocational education.
Vocational education will remain a compulsory curricular area for the Class 10 batch of 2028. To fulfil this requirement, students may opt for either the subject 'Kaushal Vikas' or any one of the 22 skill subjects notified by the Board. The notified skill subjects include artificial intelligence, data science, information technology, financial markets, healthcare and design thinking.
The CBSE has outlined two pathways for vocational education. Students opting for any of the 22 skill subjects will have to appear for the board examination in that skill subject in Class 10 in 2027-28. Their marks and grades will be reflected in the marksheet issued by the Board, as per existing practice. Successful students will also receive certification under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
Students who choose 'Kaushal Vikas' will be assessed internally by the school and will receive a school certificate on securing at least 33% marks. They will not be required to appear for the subject in the board examination.
The Board has also clarified that certain curricular elements will not be part of the Scheme of Studies for these batches. In a communique to school principals, Praggya M. Singh, Director (Academics), CBSE, said the subject 'Individuals in Society' and the 'Modules of CT and AI' in Class 9 for 2026-27, and the subject 'Environmental Education' in Class 10 for 2027-28, shall not be part of the curriculum for these batches.
The board said the move is intended to align the introduction of the curricular area with the implementation schedule. Board sources said the circular aims to provide clarity to the current batch of Class 9 students as they progress to Class 10. They said the priority is to safeguard students' interests by communicating academic and examination-related provisions well in advance, and to encourage meaningful learning rather than a sole focus on examinations.
The clarification comes amid the Board's ongoing efforts to give students and schools sufficient notice about changes to the assessment structure. For the 2028 batch, the five compulsory board subjects will remain the core of the Class 10 examination, while the skill paper will offer an additional option within the examination scheme.
