Twice-a-Year Class 10 & 12 Board Exams from 2025

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on February 20th, 2024 that students will get the choice to appear for secondary and higher secondary board examinations twice annually starting academic year 2025-26. The reformist measure aims to reduce exam stress aligned to objectives of National Education Policy 2020.

Rationale Behind the Move

The decision comes from National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on enhancing learning flexibility. Writing board exams twice provides more opportunities to improve performance instead of one-shot annual papers carrying extremely high stakes – a key factor causing exam tension among students.
The reform  promises transformative evolution in India’s assessment ecosystem by balancing excellence with mental well-being.

Envisioned Framework

According to the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) announced by the Ministry of Education in August last year, board examinations will be held at least twice a year to ensure students have enough time and opportunity to perform well. They will also get the option to retain the best score. The exam pattern outlined in the policy will give students the option to take board tests in two sessions yearly and retain their best marks from either attempt, as part of formally recorded academic results. This offers multiple chances to secure desired scores.

Reducing Student Anxiety

In his address, the Education Minister highlighted the urgent need for mitigating excessive exam pressure to allow students space for holistic development through participation in arts, sports etc. – a concern the twice-a-year exams model intends to tackle.

Phased Introduction

The twin board exams plan applies to both public and private schools affiliated to central and state educational boards. The modalities and subjects coverage for two test cycles will be formulated over the next two years for nation-wide implementation from 2025 academic calendar.

Continued Assessments Significance

Experts say that continuous internal assessments remain vital for evaluating application capabilities. But additional external exams provide opportunities to overcome occasional underperformance episodes during decisive board exams.

CBSE board exam

In the 2023 CBSE board exams, approximately 38.2 lakh students participated in the class 10 and class 12 board exams. As per the officials from the Education Ministry, the first of the 2025 board exams will take place in November-December 2024, with the second exam scheduled for February-March 2025.

PM SHRI scheme

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also launched PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) Scheme in Chhattisgarh under which 211 schools of the state will be upgraded. He also highlighted the concept of introducing 10 bag-less days in school every year, and stressed on engaging students with art, culture and sports, among other activities.

Category: India Nation & States Current Affairs