CBSE Confirms All Languages Will Be Offered for Class 10 Board Exams in 2025-26 Session
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced that all languages currently offered in the Class 10 board exams will continue to be available for the 2025-26 academic session. This decision comes in response to concerns raised by political leaders and the public, particularly in Punjab, regarding the alleged removal of Punjabi from the board’s draft policy.
The controversy began when CBSE released a draft policy for the new two-board-exam system, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initial draft included an indicative list of languages, which many interpreted as a final list, leading to a backlash.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains criticized CBSE, accusing the board of attempting to eliminate Punjabi from the curriculum. Political leaders across the state united against this perceived exclusion, emphasizing the cultural and educational significance of regional languages.
In response, CBSE issued an attachment clarifying that the language list in the draft was only a suggestion, not a finalized roster. The board reassured that all currently offered languages—including Punjabi, Russian, Nepali, Limboo, Lepcha, Sindhi, Malayalam, Odia, Assamese, Kannada, Kokborok, Telugu, Arabic, and Persian—would remain available in the upcoming sessions.
“This is regarding the draft policy for the conduct of two Board Examinations for Class X released by the CBSE on its website on February 25, 2025. It is clarified that the list of other subjects and languages in the draft date sheet is only indicative and that all the subjects and languages currently offered will continue to be available for the 2025-2026 academic year,” the CBSE statement read.
CBSE’s proposal to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2025-26 has garnered attention. This change aims to reduce academic pressure and allow students to improve their scores. The policy encourages competency-based assessments instead of rote learning, focusing on a more student-friendly approach to education.
The draft policy is available on the CBSE website, inviting feedback from students, parents, teachers, and schools until March 9, 2025. CBSE’s willingness to listen to public input and adapt its policies highlights the board’s commitment to student welfare and educational inclusivity.
These recent developments demonstrate a balanced approach—preserving linguistic diversity while modernizing the exam system for the benefit of students. Whether through the assurance of language inclusion or the flexible board exam schedule, CBSE’s latest initiatives mark a significant shift towards a more adaptive and inclusive education framework in India.
