The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified the examination structure for Class 10 board exams in 2028, giving students a clearer picture of the subjects they will need to study and the options available to them. Under the revised scheme, students will have five compulsory board-examination subjects, along with an option to take an additional skill subject that may help them clear the examination if they fail in Mathematics, Science or Social Science.

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The clarification applies to students studying in Class 9 during the 2026–27 academic session who will appear for their Class 10 board examinations in 2028. The changes do not apply to the current Class 10 batch.

The five compulsory board-examination subjects will be two languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. Students will study nine compulsory curricular subjects overall, including a third language, Art Education, Physical Education and Well-being, and Vocational Education.

Vocational education will remain compulsory, but students can choose between the subject Kaushal Vikas and any one of the 22 skill subjects notified by the board. These include areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Technology, Financial Markets, Healthcare and Design Thinking.

Students choosing one of the 22 skill subjects will have to appear for its Class 10 board examination. Those who pass will have their marks reflected in their marksheets and receive certification under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). Students opting for Kaushal Vikas will instead undergo school-based internal assessment and can receive a school certificate by securing at least 33 per cent marks.

CBSE has also clarified that Individuals in Society and the Computational Thinking (CT) and AI modules in Class 9, along with Environmental Education in Class 10, will not form part of the curriculum for the specified batches.

The clarification is intended to help students and schools plan ahead. Students should check official CBSE circulars and academic updates for complete details about the applicable curriculum and examination rules.