The decision to offer papers at two levels aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends offering subjects at both standard and advanced levels.
Beginning in 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will implement two-tier difficulty levels—standard and advanced—for science and social science courses in class 9, marking a significant change authorized by its Governing Body.
The proposal to provide the two topics at two levels was approved by the National School Board's Curriculum Committee, opening the door for its introduction in class 9 starting the next year and for the class 10 Board test in 2028.
In the class 10 Board examination in 2028, the two subjects could either have one question paper with an additional set of questions for the advanced level, or different question papers for the two levels, said a source who did not wish to be identified.
The decision to offer science and social science at two levels aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that ‘all subjects and corresponding assessments, beginning with Mathematics, could be offered at two levels, with students doing some of their subjects at the standard level and some at a higher level.
Further, a source added that having the option of studying mathematics and science at a higher level could benefit students planning to appear for entrance tests like the Joint Entrance Examination.
According to a source, the two topics may have separate question papers for the two levels or one question paper with an extra set of questions for the advanced level in the Class 10 Board examination in 2028.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 suggests that "all subjects and corresponding assessments, beginning with Mathematics, could be offered at two levels, with students doing some of their subjects at the standard level and some at a higher level."
This is in line with the decision to offer science and social science at two levels.
Additionally, a source said students preparing to take entrance exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination would benefit from the opportunity to study science and mathematics at a higher level.
“Currently, because the school curriculum is not considered advanced enough to help students prepare for entrance exams, they end up enrolling in coaching classes,” an official said.
Since 2019–20, the sole two-level subject offered by CBSE in Class 10 is mathematics. Although the syllabus for Standard and Basic Mathematics is the same, the difficulty of the problems on the Board exams varies.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been entrusted by the CBSE to create new textbooks for the two subjects with an extra section containing material for the advanced level, as science and social science will be offered at two levels in Class 9 next year, according to a source.
The National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023-aligned textbooks for all classes are now being released by the NCERT.
Class 1 and class 2 textbooks were updated in 2023, class 3 and class 6 textbooks were updated in 2024, and class 4, class 5, class 7, and class 8 textbooks will be released this year for the 2025–2026 school year.
According to the source, the updated class 9 textbooks should be accessible before the 2026–2027 academic year.
According to the source, students in class 9 would have to select between the two science and social science levels, and the CBSE is thinking of allowing them to switch levels as early as class 10.
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