CISCE to introduce robotics, AI, and competency-based exams for classes XI and XII from 2025

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which oversees ICSE and ISC board exams, is set to introduce substantial reforms starting in the 2025-26 academic session. These changes are aimed at aligning the council’s academic framework with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, impacting over 30 lakh students across India.

According to a TOI report, one of the major reforms includes the introduction of robotics and artificial intelligence as subjects for Classes XI and XII. For younger students, these subjects will be integrated into computer science, where AI and coding will be taught in an elementary, cohesive manner. This move highlights CISCE’s focus on preparing students for future technologies.

The council is also set to launch a "holistic progress card" to assess students’ overall development in a 360-degree manner. This progress card will focus on evaluating students’ achievements in both academic and non-academic spheres, providing a comprehensive view of their learning outcomes.

A significant change will also be seen in the structure of Board exams. From 2025 onwards, 25% of the questions will be competency-based, with the percentage increasing to 40% by 2026 and 50% by 2027. These competency-based questions are designed to test core competencies rather than memorised facts, making exams more skill-focused. Joseph Emmanuel, CEO and secretary of CISCE, remarked, "This approach, integrating humanities, arts, and STEM subjects, has shown positive outcomes, including increased creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and higher-order thinking capacities."

In a bid to enhance the overall quality of education, CISCE will also introduce digital assessments for Classes III, V, and VIII, beginning in 2025-26. These assessments will serve as diagnostic tools to identify students needing remediation and those with exceptional abilities.

Additionally, the council plans to launch a school improvement plan aimed at raising standards in government schools. High-performing schools will be encouraged to collaborate with state governments to enhance educational quality in public institutions. Emmanuel emphasized that the reforms aim to create a more balanced and skill-oriented educational environment, ultimately making board exams more student-friendly and reflective of real-world skills.