CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education)
India's central school examination board, established in 1962, that affiliates schools across India and abroad and conducts the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams.
Who runs CBSE?
CBSE is governed by the Union Government of India through the Ministry of Education. It affiliates more than 28,000 schools in India and 240+ schools in 28 countries.
Which textbooks does CBSE use?
CBSE recommends NCERT textbooks for Classes 1 to 12. Schools may supplement with publishers like Oxford University Press or Pearson, especially in foundation years.
CBSE vs other boards
- CBSE: Pan-India focus, accepted in JEE/NEET, lighter language load.
- ICSE: English-medium focus, broader humanities and language coverage.
- State boards (e.g., Telangana SSC): Lower fees, regional language strength.
- OIC / Cambridge / IB: International frameworks, conceptual depth.
Related terms
ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education)
An English-medium examination certificate awarded by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) at the end of Class 10.
Telangana SSC (State Board)
The Board of Secondary Education, Telangana, conducts the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Class 10 public examination in Telugu and English media for affiliated state-syllabus schools.
NCERT
The National Council of Educational Research and Training — the government body that publishes the standard Indian textbooks used by CBSE and many state boards.