CBSE to Introduce Open-Book Exams for Class 9 from 2026–27
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to introduce open-book assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 students, beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. This change was approved by CBSE’s Governing Body in June 2025.
Under this approach, students can refer to textbooks, class notes, or library resources during certain internal exams. These will be part of the three pen-and-paper assessments held each term, covering key subjects like languages, mathematics, science, and social science.
The move aligns with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, both of which advocate a shift from memorisation to competency-based learning.
A pilot study conducted in December 2023 across Classes 9 to 12 revealed mixed outcomes: student scores ranged from 12% to 47%, indicating challenges in effectively using resources and integrating knowledge from different disciplines. Still, teachers involved were optimistic, noting OBAs’ potential to foster critical thinking and application skills.
To ensure success, CBSE plans to provide standardised sample papers and a framework for schools to adopt the new format. The OBAs are optional, allowing schools with the necessary capacity to implement them.
This isn’t a first for CBSE—they previously experimented with an Open Text-Based Assessment (OTBA) between 2014 and 2017 for certain classes. However, that was discontinued due to limited success in enhancing critical thinking
