The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified the Class 10 subject structure for the 2028 board examinations, bringing changes to compulsory subjects, vocational education and assessment requirements. The revised scheme also excludes certain newly introduced curricular components for the affected student batches.
CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2028: Who Will Be Affected?
The Central Board of Secondary Education has announced changes to its Scheme of Studies for students who are currently studying in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session.
These students will progress to Class 10 in 2027-28 and appear for their board examinations in 2028. The clarification was issued through Circular No. Acad-70/2026, dated October 29, 2026.
One of the important changes is the clarification that students will have five compulsory subjects for their Class 10 board examinations, while their overall curriculum will include nine compulsory subjects.
The board has also explained how vocational education will be assessed, giving students a choice between school-based assessment and board examinations in skill-based subjects.
The revised structure is intended to provide clarity to students, parents and schools before the affected batch enters Class 10.
Five Compulsory Subjects for CBSE Class 10 Board Exams
Under the revised CBSE scheme, students will appear for board examinations in five compulsory subjects. These include:
- Language 1
- Language 2
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
Students will continue studying these core subjects as part of their Class 10 curriculum.
The board has clarified that students must secure at least 33% marks in each of the five board-assessed subjects to pass the Class 10 examination.
The passing requirement will be calculated by combining internal assessment and board examination marks wherever applicable. For example, a student scoring 24 out of 80 in the written examination and nine out of 20 in internal assessment will obtain 33 marks out of 100 and meet the minimum passing requirement.
This distinction is important because the number of compulsory board examination subjects is not the same as the total number of subjects students will study during the academic year.
Nine Compulsory Subjects: What Students Will Study
Although only five subjects form the compulsory board examination group, students will be required to study nine compulsory curricular subjects.
These include:
- Language 1
- Language 2
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
- Language 3
- Art Education
- Physical Education and Well-being
- Vocational Education
Language 3, Art Education and Physical Education and Well-being will be assessed through school-based internal assessment.
Vocational education will follow a separate assessment structure depending on the option selected by the student.
CBSE has also clarified that students may opt for one additional optional subject from the list provided in its Scheme of Studies. The optional subject may involve a board examination or school-based internal assessment, depending on the subject.
The structure allows students to continue learning beyond the five main board examination subjects without treating every curricular area as a compulsory board examination paper.
CBSE Removes Individuals in Society, CT and AI Modules
Another significant part of the CBSE clarification concerns the interdisciplinary area and computational thinking curriculum.
The board has stated that certain components will not be included in the curriculum for the affected batches.
These include:
- Individuals in Society in Class 9 during 2026-27
- Modules on Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence in Class 9 during 2026-27
- Environmental Education in Class 10 during 2027-28
CBSE explained that the decision was taken to align the introduction of these curricular areas with their implementation schedule.
The clarification is relevant because students and schools had questions about the additional subjects and modules introduced under the evolving curriculum framework.
By specifying which components will not apply to the 2026-27 Class 9 batch and its subsequent Class 10 session, the board has provided a clearer picture of the academic requirements for the 2028 examinations.
Vocational Education Remains Compulsory for Students
While certain interdisciplinary components have been excluded, vocational education will remain a compulsory curricular area for the 2028 Class 10 batch.
Students will have two options to fulfil this requirement.
The first option is Kaushal Vikas, which will be assessed through school-based internal assessment. Students choosing this option will not need to appear for a separate board examination in the subject.
Schools will issue their own certificates to students who secure at least 33% marks in the internal assessment.
The second option is to select any one of the 22 skill subjects notified by CBSE. Students choosing one of these subjects will have to appear for its Class 10 board examination.
The marks and grades will be reflected in the board-issued marksheet. Students who successfully pass the examination will also receive certification under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF).
This arrangement gives students an opportunity to pursue practical and career-oriented learning while completing their secondary education.
List of 22 CBSE Skill Subjects for Class 10
CBSE has provided a list of 22 skill subjects that students can select instead of Kaushal Vikas.
These subjects cover different areas of vocational and technical learning.
The list includes:
- Retail
- Information Technology
- Security
- Automotive
- Introduction to Financial Markets
- Introduction to Tourism
- Beauty and Wellness
- Agriculture
- Food Production
- Front Office Operations
- Banking and Insurance
- Marketing and Sales
- Healthcare
- Apparel
- Multimedia
- Multi Skill Foundation Course
- Artificial Intelligence
- Physical Activity Trainer
- Data Science
- Electronics and Hardware
- Foundation Skills for Sciences (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology)
- Design Thinking and Innovation
The selection of a skill subject will determine whether the student undergoes school-based assessment or a separate board examination for vocational education.
Students interested in technology, business, healthcare, agriculture and other professional fields can consider these options according to their interests and the subjects offered by their schools.
Skill Subject Can Help Replace Certain Failed Subjects
One of the important provisions in the revised scheme concerns students who do not meet the passing requirement in Mathematics, Science or Social Science.
If a student selects one of the 22 notified skill subjects and successfully passes its board examination, the skill subject can replace any one of these three subjects in which the student secures less than 33%.
The result will then be calculated according to the replacement provision outlined by CBSE.
However, this benefit is not available to students who choose Kaushal Vikas instead of a board-examined skill subject.
The board has also provided a similar replacement provision for students who select an additional language as an optional subject. If a student fails to secure the required marks in either of the two compulsory languages but passes the optional language examination, the optional language can replace the failed language for result calculation, subject to the board’s conditions.
These provisions make the selection of optional subjects an important decision for students and their parents.
Will the New CBSE Rules Apply to Current Class 10 Students?
No. The revised Scheme of Studies is specifically applicable to students currently studying in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session and progressing to Class 10 in 2027-28.
Students who are already studying in Class 10 during the 2026-27 academic session will continue under the existing scheme.
This distinction is important because the changes should not be interpreted as applying to every student appearing for CBSE Class 10 board examinations.
Schools will need to communicate the updated subject requirements to the affected students and ensure that their subject selections and assessments follow the revised framework.
What Students and Parents Should Understand
The revised CBSE Class 10 subject structure brings greater clarity to the examination requirements for the 2028 batch.
Students should understand that studying nine compulsory curricular subjects does not mean appearing for nine compulsory board examination papers. Five subjects form the compulsory board examination group, while other curricular areas follow internal assessment or specific optional examination arrangements.
Vocational education also remains part of the compulsory curriculum. Therefore, students should understand the difference between choosing Kaushal Vikas and selecting one of the 22 skill subjects before finalising their options.
Parents should also ensure that they are following information applicable to their child’s academic batch rather than relying on older examination guidelines or reports about other classes.
The detailed circular and its FAQs are available through the official CBSE Academic website.
Key Takeaways
- CBSE has clarified the Class 10 subject structure for the 2028 board examinations.
- Students will have five compulsory board examination subjects but will study nine compulsory curricular subjects.
- Individuals in Society, CT and AI modules, and Environmental Education will not be included for the specified batches.
- Vocational education remains compulsory, with students choosing between Kaushal Vikas and one of 22 skill subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who will be affected by the revised CBSE Class 10 subject structure?
Students studying in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session will follow the revised structure when they progress to Class 10 in 2027-28 and appear for their board examinations in 2028.
2. How many compulsory subjects will students have in the 2028 CBSE Class 10 board examinations?
Students will have five compulsory board examination subjects: two languages, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. However, they will study nine compulsory curricular subjects.
3. Is vocational education compulsory for the 2028 CBSE Class 10 batch?
Yes. Students must choose either Kaushal Vikas or one of the 22 skill subjects notified by CBSE. Kaushal Vikas involves school-based internal assessment, while the selected skill subjects require a board examination.
4. Will the revised CBSE rules apply to students currently studying in Class 10?
No. Students in Class 10 during the 2026-27 academic session will continue under the existing scheme. The revised provisions apply to the current Class 9 batch progressing to Class 10 in 2027-28.
