Know About Education boards in India
The education boards in India are diverse and provide students with a qualitative approach to studies and learning. The education board of India offers 4 education boards to students to choose from. And also, teaches people the importance of education in one’s life and in society as a whole.

Education plays a vital role in over development of the personality and helping in realizing what is right and wrong for ourselves. The four different education boards are:
- Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- IB School
- Secondary School Certificate (SSC)
National Education Boards in India – CBSE, CISCE, NIOS
In total, India has four education boards and other state boards that are listed above. These boards are responsible for conducting 10th and 12th examinations. In this article, we will talk about what role do education boards have to play in the education system
Different state boards are responsible for school education in India. Therefore, there are in total of three boards that are solely responsible for conducting examinations for class 10th and 12th. They are:
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
- Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
- National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
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Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
Established in 1958, this national-level board conducts examinations for two specific boards that are the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Indian School Certificate (ISC). Council for the Indian school certificate examinations looks on to 10th and 12th board examinations that are under ICSE and ISC boards. More than 2200 schools are affiliated with Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. The council conducts both board classes exams in February and March respectively.
NOTE- The board only conducts examinations for regular students. (NO OPEN Students)
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What is the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE)?
Established in 1978, Indian certificate of secondary education(ICSE) is a private board that conducts general examinations for class 12th. This main objective of Indian certificate of secondary education was to conduct qualitative and general examination through the medium of English with the help of the recommendations made in the education policy in 1986.
Details Of ICSE Board.
| English medium | Additional-3 subjects |
| Total of 6 subjects | Total of 11 subjects |
| 5 best five | English marks are mandatory |
Students appearing for the ICSE board have to opt for 6 subjects and 3-4 additional subjects that consist of 11 subjects out of which the result will be formulated by taking 5 out of 0 best and English marks are mandatory. Is ICSE a tougher board? The syllabus of this particular board differs from the other two boards.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Central Board of Secondary Education is one such board that has more than 21,000 schools it which is spread more than in 25 foreign countries. It is the national Education board that is responsible for conducting exams for class 10th and 12th. Total of:
- 1,138 Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs),
- 3,011 Government/Aided schools, 16,741 independent schools, 595 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and 14 Central Tibetan schools that come under the CBSE.
This particular board conducts examinations for both private and regular students for the classes 10th and 12th. The students who want to opt for distance learning and sit for the exam can choose CBSE. The board offers a plethora of courses to students after 10th to choose for higher studies such as Science, commerce, humanities with different combinations of subjects as well. And after 12th class from the particular stream can apply to universities or colleges of their choice.NIOS is a one-stop solution for all the dropouts or students who cannot go to regular schools. The board helps the students to get the same environment just as in any other regular school for that matter.
Popular Entrance Exams
Some of the popular entrance exams after 12th are conducted by CBSE:
- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (JNVST)
- Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET)
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
Established in 1989, the National Institute of open schooling was formulated by the Ministry of Human Resources Department commonly known as(MHRD). The board comes under the union of government.
- The main objective of making the board was to increase literacy and awareness among the people about the importance of education.
- Also, with the motive of flexible learning and providing education to those sectors and sections of society that are unable to get it.
Similar to the other two boards, the National Institute of Open Schooling offers various vocational courses as well to the students. The board also conducts examinations for senior secondary classes such as 10th and 12th. Almost every year more than 4,00,000 students get enroll by the national institute of open schooling that makes it the largest schooling system in India. The particular board conducts the examinations twice the year I.e MarchAprill and the second one in September/October.
FAQ on Education Boards in India.
- Which is the best board to choose from? Is it CBSE or ICSE?
Any parent would want a safe future for their children. Choosing the right board as well as the right place for studying is very important. Also, before coming to the final decision make sure you know all the advantages and disadvantages of the concerned board. While making any decision make sure to comprehend three main factors that are:
- Market Scope
- Financial Status
- Child Capabilities and abilities.
Types of boards
| Board | Type of board |
| National Institute of Open Schooling – NIOS | National |
| Central Board of Secondary Education -CBSE | National |
| Indian certificate of Secondary education-ICSE | National |
Conclusion- Although we know how important education is for society, not only improves but also educates and makes people aware of what is right and what is wrong. While choosing a particular board one should keep in mind different factors that are necessary for student’s future growth. We all know education helps in over development of an individual whereas it also helps in the development of the society. It’s one of the necessities of society.









