India runs the largest school system in the entire world. However, it is no surprise that the population of the country is so vast that it will have thousands of schools in the country. You will be amazed to know that India has more than 720,000 schools in operation.
If you’re wondering how many boards are there in India, the country has a wide range of education boards, each with its own structure, syllabus, and examination pattern.
Different Types of Boards in India (Bullet List)
State Boards (16+ boards, each managed by respective states)
- CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)
- CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations – ICSE & ISC)
- IB (International Baccalaureate)
- Cambridge International Examinations (CIE/IGCSE)
- NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)
The programs and policies are built by an organization known as the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization under India's Ministry of Education, established in 1961, aiming to improve school education
More than 3 million students take the board exams every year. Board exams are conducted in the 10th and 12th standard. They are generally conducted in the month of March. The marks obtained by the students in the 10th Board Examinations are quite important, as majorly it decides the field in which a student can pursue his/her career.
After the 10th class examinations, a student can choose a stream in which they want to build their careers. The options are science, arts, and commerce. After they complete their secondary education, then a student goes to a college in the field they chose in the 10th class to complete their graduation. The eligibility requirements differ from college to college. Secondary School Examination is the necessary gateway to college.
Indian Education System In 2025
The Indian education system is divided into four levels: lower primary (ages 6-10), upper primary (ages 11-12), high school (ages 13-15), and higher secondary (ages 17-18). The lower primary school is further divided into five "standards," the upper primary school into two, the high school into three, and the higher secondary school into two.
India has a four-level compulsory education system (5+3+3+4 education pattern), which includes five years of primary schooling, followed by 3 years of middle school, and two years of high school. This system aims to provide all children with access to basic education.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced significant reforms to the Indian education system. These reforms include the introduction of a five-year foundational stage of education, comprising three years of preschool and two years of primary school. The NEP also emphasizes the importance of holistic development, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Education Boards in India
There are three types of boards in the Indian education system. All these boards have their patterns of the syllabus and conduct their own examinations for the students. Board Certification in India is necessary for all children. Three school education boards in India are:
Central Board of Secondary Education
The CBSE board was originally made for the children of central government employees. The idea was that the central employees get transferred quite regularly and that affected the studies of their children. So a board was developed and implemented in thousands of schools across India so that the education of a child does not get bothered by the transfer of their parents.
The students of this board follow the textbooks written by the NCERT. CBSE conducts the examinations for the 10th and 12th classes. Multiple schools by the name of Kendriya Vidyalaya (Central School) are run by the government follow the CBSE board and are made for the education of the students in the urban areas.
Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) also known as Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan ( transl. Central School Organization) are a system of central government schools in India that provide education to the children of transferable Central Government employees. They are autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Apart from these schools, thousands of private schools are also affiliated with the CBSE Board. More than a hundred schools outside India are also recognized with CBSE boards that cater to the needs of the Indian population there.
Facts About Central Board of Secondary Education In India
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is a national board of education in India. Here are some facts about the CBSE:
- The CBSE was established in 1962 and is headquartered in New Delhi, India.
- The CBSE is responsible for conducting high school and intermediate exams for schools affiliated with it, as well as for developing and updating the curriculum for these exams.
- The CBSE also conducts entrance exams for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate courses in colleges and universities across India, including the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses.
- As of 2021, there are over 21,000 schools in India affiliated with the CBSE, including schools in foreign countries.
- The CBSE is also responsible for implementing various educational programs and initiatives, including the National Curriculum Framework and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program for universal elementary education.
- The CBSE has been involved in various controversies over the years, including issues related to the difficulty level of exams, the results of exams, and the quality of question papers.
- In recent years, the CBSE has been focusing on the use of technology in education, including the use of digital learning resources, online assessments, and virtual classrooms.
- The CBSE is one of several educational boards in India, with others including the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and various state boards of education.
Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
ICSE is another board made for educating children in India. Thousands of private schools are affiliated to the ICSE board in India. They have their course structure and syllabus for the academic year. Like the CBSE National Board, ICSE also conducts the board examinations at the end of the 10th and 12th classes.
Facts About Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) in India
The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) is a national board of education in India that offers a secondary school certification to students. Here are some facts about ICSE in India:
- The ICSE was established in 1958 by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), a private non-governmental board of education.
- The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive and balanced, covering a wide range of subjects including languages, sciences, social sciences, and vocational subjects.
- The exams are typically taken in Grade 10 (or Year 10) and are considered to be challenging and rigorous.
- The board is recognized by many colleges and universities in India, and students who pass the ICSE exams are eligible to apply for higher education courses in India and abroad.
- As of 2021, there are over 2,000 schools in India affiliated with the ICSE board, with many of them located in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai.
- The board is known for its focus on English language proficiency, with English being the medium of instruction and examination for most subjects.
- ICSE places a strong emphasis on co-curricular activities such as sports, arts, and community service, and students are required to participate in these activities as part of their overall education.
State Boards
Apart from CBSE and ICSE, the third category of the school education system in India is the state-level boards. All the states of India have their own state board which decides the course, syllabus, and curriculum of the studies in the schools. These schools are operated by the state governments and help in the education of children.
The examination pattern of these schools is different in different states. Some of them have board examinations in 8th, 10th, and 12th while some states have board examinations in the 5th, 8th, 10th, and 12th classes. The passing score in India is 33%.
International Baccalaureate Certification
Apart from the three primary boards in India, another board is for students who want to pursue further education outside India. International Baccalaureate Certification is another way for students to complete their education.
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is a government board of education established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in 1989.
NIOS aims to provide education to all, regardless of age, gender, or social background. It promotes open and distance learning, making education accessible to individuals in remote areas or with special needs.
NIOS is a national board that conducts Secondary and Senior Secondary examinations, as well as offers vocational courses after high school. It is one of the largest open schooling systems in the world, enrolling approximately 350,000 students annually. Board exams are held twice a year in March/April and September/October.
The Pattern of School Examinations: CBSE, ICSE & State Board
All three boards have different patterns for conducting the board examinations. The CBSE board examines the end of the 10th class and 12th classes. The exams are conducted in the month of March. For class 10 students, there is a written examination of 80 marks and an assessment of 20 marks.
The certification exam is not computer-based and is a written exam. You can find information about CBSE examinations on their main website.
It is usually a practical examination or an oral examination. However, in subjects like Maths, there are 20 marks of multiple-choice questions and do not have oral exams. Examiners come from several other schools to take these exams.
The major subjects of which the board examinations are conducted in the class 10th are English, Science, Hindi, Social Science, and Mathematics. Each paper is subjective and is of 3 hours each. Candidates need to get at least 33% marks to pass the examination.
However, the competition is very high in India and the students take a lot of pressure to achieve good marks.
For the 12th Standard, the Examination Process remains the same, but with different subjects. The subjects depend on the stream a student has taken. Students who have opted for science take exams for subjects English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology, and one vocational subject that is optional. After these exams, many students opt for a Btech degree for their further education. Know more about education in Btech.
A student of commerce has subjects of Account, Business Studies, Economics, English, and one optional subject. Students who study arts have geography, history, political science, English, and one optional subject as their subjects.
After you complete their Class 12th and secondary school, which is a certification examination, there are multiple entrance tests for the colleges. Know more about secondary school examinations in India in detail.
The pattern of the classes and examinations in ICSE and state boards remains quite similar to that of CBSE. These all also conduct certification exams. The exam date, as told earlier, comes in March, and exam results come in the next 2-3 months.
Most Important Websites For CBSE, ICSE, And State-board Students
Here are some important websites that can be helpful for students studying in CBSE, ICSE, and state boards in India:
CBSE
Cbse.nic.in
Official website of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) which contains information about the board, exams, syllabus, circulars, etc
.
Cbseresults.nic.in
This website is used to check the results of CBSE board exams.
Epathshala.nic.in:
This website provides access to digital textbooks, audiobooks, videos, and other e-learning resources for CBSE students.
ICSE
Cisce.org
Official website of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts ICSE and ISC exams. The website contains information about the board, syllabus, results, and other important notifications.
Results.cisce.org
This website is used to check the results of ICSE and ISC exams.
Exam18.com
This website offers a range of study materials and practice papers for ICSE students.
State Boards
Educationboardsresults.gov.bd:
This website is used to check the results of state board exams across India.
Education.nic.in
Official website of the Ministry of Education, which contains information about education policies, schemes, and initiatives by the government.
Ncert.nic.in
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) website provides access to digital textbooks, videos, and other e-learning resources for state board students.
Toughest Boards In India
It is difficult to determine which board is the toughest in India, as the level of difficulty varies from student to student and can depend on various factors such as personal strengths and weaknesses, the quality of teaching and resources provided by the school, and the student's study habits and dedication.
However, some students and educators believe that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) are relatively tougher than other boards of education in India.
Both of these boards have a reputation for being challenging and rigorous, with a strong focus on English language proficiency and a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of subjects.
Differences Between CBSE, ICSE, and School Boards In India
Some of the key differences between these boards of education:
Curriculum: The CBSE and ICSE boards have a national curriculum, while the state-level school boards have a curriculum that is specific to the state.
The CBSE curriculum is known for being more focused on science and mathematics, while the ICSE curriculum is known for being more comprehensive and balanced.
Syllabus: CBSE and ICSE follow a structured syllabus, while state boards have a more flexible approach to syllabi.
CBSE and ICSE have a uniform syllabus throughout the country, while state boards can have different syllabi for different states.
Language of Instruction: The medium of instruction and examination for most subjects in CBSE and ICSE is English, while state boards may offer regional language as the medium of instruction.
Examination Pattern: The CBSE and ICSE boards have a similar exam pattern, with both having a final examination at the end of Grade 10.
State-level school boards, on the other hand, may have multiple exams throughout the year and a final examination at the end of Grade 10.
Grading System: The CBSE board follows a nine-point grading system, while the ICSE board follows a seven-point grading system.
State-level school boards may have their own grading systems.
Recognition: CBSE and ICSE are recognized by most universities and colleges in India, as well as some universities and colleges abroad.
State-level school boards may have limited recognition outside of the state.
Focus: CBSE and ICSE boards focus on both academic and co-curricular activities, while state-level school boards may have a greater focus on local culture and languages.
Affiliation: CBSE and ICSE boards are affiliated with the central government, while state-level school boards are affiliated with the state government.
How Can A Home Tutor Help With Examination Preparation?
Nowadays, online tutoring is gaining popularity in the field of multimedia too, and rightfully so. It is a great way for children to get their concepts clear with the help of an experienced professional teacher. A good teacher is a remark of his student's results. Not all teachers can teach the same way. Online tutoring platforms like Superprof give a student the power to choose the needed teacher for her. Teachers on Superprof have the required experience and skills to educate children properly.
By checking out the profiles of all the teachers in your area and city, and by reading the reviews and testimonials of students, it becomes easy to pick the right teacher for you to crack the SSC exams or CBSE exams. There are teachers on Superprof that provide online lessons too. A student can take these interactive lessons by sitting in his room over the webcam. In many instances, these have been quite helpful for the students. Either way, help yourself get better teachers and results through Superprof.
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CBSE board exams should be postponed due to COVID-19 as many schools have not completed their syllabus
We agree with you, however, we are confident that the government will take the best decision possible for students.