Education

Education Boards in India – CBSE, ICSE and State Boards

The new education system emerged as popular in India in recent times. The country is witnessing an increased number of education Boards different from each other in syllabus, exam pattern, etc. Parents get confused about which is better for their kids. We have thoroughly analysed the learning approach and evaluation criteria followed by different Boards.

But, with the recent trends in the education system of India, all Boards almost follow the same approach when it comes to learning. For example, most State Boards now follow the textbooks and syllabus of the NCERT for all standards. Students who study under the State Board can sit for various competitive exams like IIT JEE Entrance Examinations, UPSC, etc. Even State Board students can download the syllabus, textbooks, model papers, and exam date sheets from official websites like other national Boards.

CBSE, ICSE and State Boards get their study resources from their respective websites. For example, students of CBSE can download CBSE sample paper from their official website.

This article has discussed all the leading school Boards in India regarding teaching, assessment methods, difficulty level, and other factors. It will give parents a fair idea about the features and benefits of different school Boards in India.

Different Education Boards in India

1. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

The Central Board of Secondary Education, popularly known as CBSE, is considered the most popular and prestigious Board in India. Students get an advantage, as most competitive exams are based on the NCERT syllabus. Most schools are affiliated with CBSE Board. The Board also has a global presence across 21 countries.

CBSE Board instructs all its affiliated schools to use NCERT textbooks for all standards and subjects. The CBSE syllabus designed and prescribed by CBSE helps students prepare for engineering and medical entrance examinations. All the competitive exams are based on the syllabus of CBSE.

CBSE Board conducts two major examinations – The All India Secondary School Examination (AISSE) for Class 10 and the All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE) for Class 12.

2. The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)

The Indian Certificate of Secondary Education is popularly known as ICSE. ICSE Board comes under The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination, a private education Board in India. The primary function of the Board is to conduct the Class 10 examination. Compared to the CBSE Board, the ICSE Board is more inclined towards the overall growth of providing a balanced curriculum.

ICSE Board is known for its vast syllabus, and it imparts practical knowledge for the overall development of the students. The curriculum also emphasises extra-curricular activities and essential knowledge required for a student’s future. The ICSE syllabus is well-constructed and more comprehensive compared to the CBSE syllabus.

3. State Boards

In India, we have 28 states, and each state has its educational Board. For example, Maharashtra State Board, Tamil Nadu State Board, Karnataka State Board, etc. Each State Board has its curriculum and different teaching methods. Most of the current State Boards started to use the NCERT textbooks, which can be downloaded from their official website. So, students of State Boards can now prepare themselves for competitive exams.

The State Board conducts two major examinations – Secondary School Certificate (SSC) for Class 10 and The Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exams for Class 12. The syllabus of the State Board prepares students to compete for the pan India examination. In comparison with CBSE and ICSE Boards, the syllabus of State Boards prefers regional and vernacular languages.

Every State Board has its official website, including information about the Board, syllabus, textbooks of all classes, model papers, etc. Class wise books are available online, which can be accessed for free.