NEW DELHI: From the academic year 2026-27, CBSE schools will introduce a ‘two-tier’ system – standard and basic – for science and social science subjects. This move aligns with the existing dual-level system for mathematics. The Board plans to extend this to other subjects as well, as part of implementation of National Education Policy 2020.
This initiative was recently approved at CBSE’s curriculum committee meeting and now awaits final endorsement from governing body.
CBSE chairperson Rahul Singh said, “It’s part of NEP implementation. NEP envisaged offering the subjects at two levels.” He also confirmed that “the offer will available from 2026-27 academic year once NCERT textbooks are out”.
The system aims to provide flexibility and reduce academic pressure. This structure accommodates varying learning abilities and student interests. Currently, CBSE offers mathematics at two levels – mathematics – standard (advanced) and mathematics – basic (regular). In the 2023-24 Board exams, 15,88,041 students registered for the standard level mathematics, while 6,79,560 opted for the basic level.
NCERT has already introduced textbooks aligned with National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), 2023, for Classes I, II, III and VI. New textbooks for Classes IV, V, VII and VII are under development for implementation in 2025-26 academic session.
Students will likely receive a designated period to choose between advanced and standard levels, with flexibility to switch within this timeframe.
Singh added, “The exact shape of the framework is yet to be worked out. It will depend on the new textbooks, whether there will be two books of different difficulty level, supplementary content or two sets of question papers from the same content.”