CBSE CLASS 10 EXAMS IN 2028: VOCATIONAL SKILL SUBJECT MAY HELP STUDENTS CLEAR BOARD EXAMINATION

October 29, 2026

New Delhi | October 29, 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified the examination structure for students currently studying in Class 9 who will appear for their Class 10 board examinations in 2028. Under the revised arrangement, students opting for an additional skill subject may be able to use it to meet the passing requirements if they fail certain core subjects, including Mathematics, Science or Social Science.

The clarification applies to students enrolled in Class 9 during the 2026–27 academic session and does not affect the current Class 10 batch. CBSE has specified five compulsory board examination subjects: two languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. Students will study nine compulsory curricular subjects overall, including vocational education, a third language, art education, and physical education and well-being.

For vocational education, students may choose either Kaushal Vikas or one of the 22 skill subjects notified by the board. The available options include Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Technology, Financial Markets, Healthcare and Design Thinking.

Students choosing one of the 22 skill subjects will have to sit for a separate Class 10 board examination in that subject. Successful candidates will receive a National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) certificate, with their marks and grades reflected in the CBSE marksheet. Those opting for Kaushal Vikas will instead undergo school-based internal assessment and receive a school certificate upon securing at least 33 per cent marks.

The board has also clarified that the planned curricular additions—Individuals in Society, Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence modules, and Environmental Education—will not be included in the curriculum for the specified batches, in line with the implementation schedule.

The revised structure aims to provide students with vocational learning opportunities alongside conventional academic subjects. However, the extent to which a skill subject can compensate for failure in a core paper will depend on the applicable CBSE examination and result rules.