Archive · 27 Dec 2025
India's 2025-26 Education Policy Changes
In 2025, India is making big changes to school and college exams.
Students in Classes 10 and 12 will take two exams a year instead of one, with the best score counted.
Some states like Karnataka will have three exams.
Tamil Nadu is removing the big exam for 11th grade.
Colleges under the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will let students do a fourth year of research if they want.
New textbooks based on NCERT curriculum will be introduced for Classes 2, 3, 4, and 6 in Maharashtra.
These changes aim to make exams less stressful and give students more chances to succeed.
The goal is to make education better and more flexible for everyone.
India is shifting to multiple board exams per year for Classes 10 and 12, starting 2025-26.
CBSE will conduct two exams annually (February and May), with the best score counted.
Several state boards are adopting similar two-exam systems, while Karnataka offers three exams.
Tamil Nadu has abolished the Class 11 public examination, reverting to school-based assessments.
The changes aim to reduce stress, offer flexibility, and improve equity in assessments.
Colleges under NEP 2020 will offer a fourth-year research option for bachelor's degree students.
New NCERT-based textbooks will be introduced for Classes 2, 3, 4, and 6 in Maharashtra from 2026-27.
Competency-based examinations are expected to start from the 2026-27 academic year.
- Who
- Indian school boards (CBSE, state boards), students, and educational institutions
- What
- Transformation of board exams and implementation of NEP 2020
- When
- Starting from the 2025-26 academic year
- Where
- Across India, with variations by state
- Why
- To reduce stress, offer flexibility, improve equity in assessments, and align with NEP 2020
Supporters of NEP 2020
Critics of NEP 2020
Implementation of Fourth Year
Supporters of NEP 2020
Provides students with more flexibility and research opportunities.
Critics of NEP 2020
Lacks clarity and may increase confusion among students and institutions.
- Policy
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
- CBSE Exams
- Two exams per year (February and May)
- State Boards
- Multiple states adopting two exams per year
- Karnataka
- Three exams per year
- Tamil Nadu
- Abolished Class 11 public examination
- Implementation
- Starting from 2025-26 academic year
- Purpose
- Reduce stress, offer flexibility, improve equity
- Impact
- Ends single high-stakes exam concept
- NEP Structure
- Three-year bachelor degree with option for a fourth year
- New Textbooks
- Classes 2, 3, 4, and 6 in Maharashtra
- Competency-Based Exams
- Expected to start from 2026-27
