Education is at the cusp of transformation under the new educational policy, with significant changes on the horizon. One of the most momentous shifts is the introduction of biannual board exams, effectively replacing the traditional annual examinations that have been the norm until now.
In this evolving landscape, the most recent development is the impending transition from annual to biannual board exams. This transformation is driven by the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which has spurred the Ministry of Education into action. Under the umbrella of this policy, the Ministry has crafted the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for schools. The new school curriculum is now meticulously designed in alignment with the NCF’s recommendations, and the implementation phase is well underway.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan revealed in a recent media interaction that new textbooks tailored for students in classes III to VI, as well as those in classes IX and XI, will be available for the academic session in 2024-25. The remaining classes will receive the new textbooks in the subsequent academic year, specifically in 2025-26.
Focusing on the biannual board exams, Minister Pradhan announced that this format will be introduced starting from the academic year 2024-25. In practical terms, this means that the shift will be observed during the 2025 board exams for students in classes X and XII, just a year and a half away.
One of the remarkable changes accompanying this transition is the flexibility for students to choose whether they wish to take the exam once or twice, based on their level of preparedness. There will be no mandatory requirement for students to sit for both sessions. Furthermore, the best score attained by the students will be incorporated into their mark sheet. This holistic approach aims to alleviate the undue burden of exam stress on students, heralding a new era in board examinations.
