CBSE 2026-27: APAAR ID compulsory for Board forms 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to make APAAR IDs mandatory for students registering for Board exams from the 2026–27 academic session. The decision comes after a review revealed that less than 50% of students in affiliated schools had generated their Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs by 2025–26.  

APAAR is envisioned as a unified digital academic identity that enables seamless tracking and management of students’ academic records. To streamline implementation, CBSE has integrated the ID linking with the registration and List of Candidates (LOC) modules for Classes 9 to 12. This step ensures that every student registered with the Board will have a unique and verifiable academic identifier, improving data consistency and facilitating lifelong academic record management.

Earlier, in August, CBSE had directed schools to ensure students obtained APAAR IDs before completing registration and LOC formalities. However, several states reported challenges in generating the IDs and sought relaxation for students appearing in the 2026 Boards.

Meanwhile, the CBSE has approved the introduction of two-level Board exams for Mathematics, Science, and Social Science in Class 10 from 2028. The differentiated curriculum model, already approved for Class 9 from 2026–27, will feature standard and advanced levels. Updated textbooks aligned with the National Curriculum Framework 2023 are expected before full implementation, while the existing syllabus will continue in 2026–27.