CBSE refutes claims of syllabus reduction in class 10, 12 board exam 2025: Check official statement

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), in an official statement has rejected claims that the Board had announced of lowering the syllabus of Class 10 and 12 by 15% for the upcoming Board Exam 2025, and is conducting open book examinations in certain courses.
Earlier, the CBSE announced a 15% reduction in the syllabus for classes 10 and 12 for the upcoming board exams in 2025. According to various media reports, the statement was made by the Board’s regional officer in Bhopal, Vikas Kumar Agrawal, at a conference titled ‘Bridging the Gap’. However, at the time, the Board had not issued an official statement notifying the announced modifications.
CBSE Issues Statement on Exam Policy: No change in syllabus
“In response to reports on certain online news portals and newspapers regarding a 15% syllabus reduction for Class 10 and 12 students under the 2025 board examinations and the introduction of open-book exams for select subjects, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that no changes have been made to its examination or internal assessment systems, nor has any official notification been released in this regard. Therefore, CBSE dismisses the claims made in these reports,” stated the official release.

CBSE further emphasised that any updates or policy changes are communicated only through official channels, such as the CBSE website and formal circulars.

What were the previously announced changes?

According to the CBSE official’s announcement, the revisions were in keeping with the Board’s aim to shift away from memorisation-driven tests and towards knowledge and skill-based assessments. Here are some of the key changes announced-
Internal Assessment Weightage now at 40%

The CBSE 2025 board exams will now allocate 40% of the final grade to internal assessments, with the remaining 60% based on board exams. This internal component includes projects, assignments, and periodic tests, promoting consistent and balanced evaluation.
Emphasis on Practical Knowledge and Skill-Based Questions
Aligning with NEP 2020, the 2025 exams will feature 50% of questions focused on practical and skill-based knowledge, encouraging critical thinking and real-world application over rote learning.
Digital Assessment and Open-Book Exam Format
CBSE will expand digital assessment for select subjects to ensure accurate, efficient grading. Additionally, an open-book format will be introduced in subjects like English Literature and Social Science to foster analytical skills and concept understanding.
Two-Term Exam Structure Starting in 2026
For 2025, CBSE will retain the single-term exam format, with plans to reintroduce a two-term structure from the 2025-2026 session. This shift aims to provide ongoing assessments for improved academic progress tracking.