Education boards in India are responsible for conducting board exams for Class 10th and 12th. Education boards consist of national-level boards, like CBSE, CISCE, etc., alongside state boards, like UP Board, Bihar Board, Punjab Board, Rajasthan Board, and so on.
Interestingly, every state has its own education board, and schools functioning under a state are recognized by the state board. So, for instance, there is the Telangana Board, Maharashtra board, etc., for the respective states.
Education boards in India are responsible for conducting exams up to Class 12th. In addition, the school boards provide syllabi, curriculum, sample question papers, and other study materials for students. Moreover, most boards release Class 10th and 12th timetables in December itself, as the exams will be conducted in March/ April.
So, today, we will discuss about these education boards in India in-depth. Thus, make sure you note crucial points about your board!
National Level Boards In India
There are primarily three national boards in India, i.e., CBSE, NIOS, and CISCE. Each national-level board encompasses some unique characteristics. So, here is a brief account of the national boards.
- CBSE Boards
The Central Board Of Secondary Education Conducts exams for the secondary and senior secondary levels. The board has ten regional offices in the following:
- Delhi
- Chennai
- Guwahati
- Ajmer
- Panchkula
- Allahabad
- Patna
- Dehradun
- Bhubaneshwar
- Thiruvananthapuram
This year, the CBSE board has divided the academic sessions into two terms, i.e., term 1 & term 2. Moreover, it has also released the latest syllabus, sample papers, and marking scheme for each term.
The Union Government of India administers the CBSE board. Thus, with over 24,000 schools in India and 240 schools internationally, CBSE is one of India’s most common education boards.
Objective Of The Board: To enable students to polish their intellectual, physical, and social skills by advancing knowledge, teaching, and application.
Curriculum: The CBSE Board follows the NCERT curriculum to help students prepare for the entrance exams. The major subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accountancy, Mathematics, English, History, Geography, Political Science, etc.
Pros:
- The admission rate is higher.
- It is the top education board recognized by all colleges and schools across India.
- Students have the freedom to choose the subjects of their choice.
- Because of its extensive presence, students with parents having transferable jobs can easily apply to any school.
- Application-based activities.
Cons:
- CBSE syllabus primarily focussed on students preparing for medical and engineering entrance exams.
- Higher school fees.
- CISCE Board
CISCE, i.e., Council for Indian School Certificate Examination, conducts exams for Class 10th & 12th; ICSE, i.e., Indian Certificate of Secondary Education; & ISC, i.e., Indian School Certificate.
The CISCE board was established in 1958 and is headquartered in New Delhi. The present chairman is G. Immanuel. All the updates regarding the CISCE boards are provided on the official website. Moreover, the CISCE board has also split the session into two terms. The syllabus for each term is on the website.
Objective Of The Board: To provide high-quality education through practical learning. The CISCE curriculum focuses on analytical thinking and application-based knowledge.
Curriculum: The students are offered Science, Humanities, and Commerce streams. Specifically for English, the board prescribes books to students. Moreover, CISCE is known for its detailed, complex, and comprehensive syllabus, including 23 Indian and 12 Foreign languages, making it the most challenging board in India.
Pros:
- The course is broad, ensuring overall growth development in students.
- Adopts application-based learning.
- The subject selection option is offered to the students. As a result, they can select the subject they wish to.
- There is an equal focus on science, art, and languages.
Cons:
- Students may find the syllabus tough and cumbersome.
- Higher fee structure.
- Non-affiliated school students are not permitted to take the exam.
- More emphasis is given to the English language, thus sidelining other languages.
- NIOS
The NIOS, i.e., National Institute of Open Schooling, conducts public and on-demand exams for secondary and senior secondary classes. This board comes under MHRD, i.e., the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Moreover, NIOS conducts examinations twice yearly, i.e., in March & October.
Also, the board provides all the study information regarding books, exam patterns, etc., on the official website.
Objective Of The Board: To facilitate universal education to all segments of society, thereby improving literacy and encouraging flexible education.
Curriculum: The board follows NCERT & NIOS books in its curriculum. The OBE, i.e., Open Basic Education, is applied from Classes 3rd to 8th in subjects like Mathematics, Environmental Science, Computer Skills, etc.
Pros:
- Five years is the maximum time for a student to complete their exams.
- Beneficial for flexible education.
- Students can learn anything.
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
Established in 1968, International Baccalaureate is a non-profit international education board in India. It is headquartered in Geneva & Switzerland and also is recognized by UNESCO.
Objective Of The Board: IB aims at creating global citizens by developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills with international mindedness throughout the program.
Curriculum: The curriculum primarily focuses on experiment-based learning instead of reading textbooks and mugging up. The IB board provides the following educational programs:
- Age 3-12 years: Primary Years Program
- Age 11-16 years: Middle Year Program
- Age 16-19 years: Diploma Program
- Age 16-19 years: Career-Related Program
Pros:
- The curriculum is based on theories including literature, knowledge acquisition, language, creativity & service, arts, & mathematics.
- Students can pick one subject from the six subject groups, thus learning the things as per their interest.
Cons:
- Higher fees.
- Difficulty in shifting boards.
- Textbooks aren’t readily available.
State-Level Boards in India
Most states have their own education boards for conducting secondary and senior secondary examinations. These boards offer curriculum in regional languages, and the school runs under the state government. Also, currently, there are 32 state education boards in India.
State boards are for students residing in a state for a couple of years and preparing for state-level medical or engineering entrance exams. Moreover, the syllabus is quite limited compared to national boards, thus making it a preferred choice among candidates. Students can also participate in sports or extracurricular activities to learn more about their culture.
Objective Of The Board: The main aim of this board is to facilitate a regional-based program and syllabus, thus helping students teach/ learn the state language & prepare for entrance exams.
Curriculum: Some state boards follow the prescribed textbooks and curriculum the state government gives to prepare students for national exams.
Pros:
- The admission process is relatively easy.
- The textbooks are easy and accessible as compared to national boards.
- Students who wish to score well and prepare for the entrance exams can benefit from state boards.
Cons:
- The syllabus isn’t comprehensive enough.
- The board lacks the necessary facilities.
- The quality of teaching can vary.
Choosing the Best Education Board In India!
Which is the best education board in India? Unfortunately, this question does not have a simple solution! The answer to this depends upon the type of education one wants to get. For instance, you can choose state boards if you like emphasizing on theory, whereas you can go for national boards if you like having practical training.
The board choice also depends on the career type you choose to follow. Moreover, in India, various education boards support different syllabi and curriculums that create the groundwork for multiple professions.
Every education board has its pros and cons, as listed above. You just need to select what you resonate with! However, the greatest option is to choose a board that offers you holistic growth.
Tell us in the comments below which board you have and what your career aspirations are!
