CBSE Class 10 exams 2028 to have five compulsory subjects, optional skill paper

October 30, 2026 /Posted byPrajwal EW / 0

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified the examination structure for the 2028 Class 10 board exams, stipulating five compulsory subjects and an optional skill subject that can serve as a safety net for students who fail in mathematics, science or social science.

The clarification applies to students currently studying in Class 9 (2026-27) and does not affect the present Class 10 batch.

The five compulsory board examination subjects will be two languages, mathematics, science and social science. However, students will study nine compulsory curricular subjects, including a third language, art education, physical education and well-being, and vocational education.

The board has also clarified that the proposed interdisciplinary curricular area, including the subject ‘Individuals in Society’ and modules on computational thinking (CT) and artificial intelligence (AI), will not be introduced for the 2026-27 Class 9 batch. Environmental Education will also not be part of the curriculum for the corresponding Class 10 batch in 2027-28.

Vocational education will remain compulsory, with students choosing between ‘Kaushal Vikas’ and any one of the 22 skill subjects notified by the board.

Students opting for one of the 22 skill subjects, which include artificial intelligence, data science, information technology, financial markets, healthcare and design thinking, will have to appear for a Class 10 board examination. The marks and grades will be reflected in their board marksheet, and students who pass will receive certification under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).

Alternatively, students choosing ‘Kaushal Vikas’ will undergo school-based internal assessment and receive a school certificate on securing at least 33 per cent marks. They will not have to appear for a separate board examination in the subject.

The CBSE has outlined these two pathways for vocational education, allowing students to choose between school-based assessment and a board examination leading to a nationally recognised skill certification.

According to board sources, the clarification is intended to inform the current Class 9 batch about the academic and examination provisions applicable when they progress to Class 10.

Inputs from PTI

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“Most schools never consciously chose their basic unit. They inherited one from the past: the class. With the class as the focus, the things that happen between people get squeezed out: the apprentice learning alongside someone skilled, the child taught where they are rather than where the class is, and the daily practice of getting along with people they did not choose. The most promising new schools are organising themselves around the individual child rather than the class. A better approach is to group children by readiness in each subject and change those groups as they progress. Communication, collaboration and handling disagreement need daily practice. In a school built around individual progress, teachers get time back to observe, diagnose, mentor and step in where they are most needed. Most teachers entered the profession to make a difference to children. Many spend their careers managing classes instead. The best new schools offer them a system that finally lets them do the work they signed up for.”

- Rahul Raghavan, Economic Times, (27/10)

“Prevention begins with understanding young people, their struggles and the environments in which they grow up. A sense of belonging, nurturing relationships and meaningful social interactions can play a crucial role in protecting adolescents from substance abuse. When young people feel connected to their families, schools and communities, they are more likely to develop healthy coping mechanisms, make informed choices and seek help when needed. Parents, teachers and community leaders must work together to create supportive spaces where adolescents feel heard, valued and understood. Schools must go beyond academic achievement to foster inclusion, emotional wellbeing and genuine relationships. Ultimately, preventing substance abuse requires looking beyond individual behaviour and recognising the influence of the relationships and communities that shape young lives.”

- Navdeep Aggarwal, Economic Times, (22/10)

CBSE Class 10 exams 2028 to have five compulsory subjects, optional skill paper

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