CBSE Circular 70/2026: What Changes for Class 9 and 10
On 29 October 2026, CBSE issued Circular No. Acad-70/2026 on the Scheme of Studies for students now in Class 9 (2026-27), who will move to Class 10 in 2027-28. Posts on social media have described it as CBSE "dropping Environmental Education and replacing it with AI". The circular says something more specific than that. This guide sets out what it actually says, point by point.
Who the circular applies to
- Students now in Class 9 (2026-27), who will be in Class 10 in 2027-28.
- It does not apply to students now in Class 10. CBSE's FAQ with the circular states clearly that the old scheme continues for the current Class 10 (2026-27) batch.
The three changes
1. Three planned additions will not apply to this batch
CBSE's new Scheme of Studies includes an Inter-disciplinary Area. The circular says that, "to align the introduction of this curricular area with the implementation schedule", the following will not be part of the curriculum for these batches:
- Individuals in Society in Class 9 (2026-27)
- Modules of CT & AI (Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence) in Class 9 (2026-27)
- Environmental Education in Class 10 (2027-28)
So Environmental Education has not been swapped for AI. The Class 9 CT & AI modules are also left out for this batch. The circular gives the reason as the implementation schedule, and the change applies to these batches.
2. Vocational Education stays compulsory
Every student must take Vocational (Skill) Education in Class 9 and Class 10. There are two ways to meet it:
- Kaushal Vikas, assessed only by the school, with no board exam, or
- One of 22 Skill Subjects, which has a board exam in Class 10.
The 22 Skill Subjects are: Retail, Information Technology, Security, Automotive, Introduction to Financial Markets, Introduction to Tourism, Beauty & Wellness, Agriculture, Food Production, Front Office Operations, Banking & Insurance, Marketing & Sales, Health Care, Apparel, Multi Media, Multi Skill Foundation Course, Artificial Intelligence, Physical Activity Trainer, Data Science, Electronics and Hardware, Foundation Skills for Sciences (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology), and Design Thinking and Innovation.
Artificial Intelligence is one of these 22 options. It is not a new compulsory subject.
3. Other optional subjects continue
All optional subjects offered in the 2025-26 scheme continue for Class 9 (2026-27) and Class 10 (2027-28). Students can also take one Optional Subject from a list of 57, including languages, music, painting, Home Science, NCC, Computer Applications, Elements of Business and Elements of Book Keeping & Accountancy. A language taken as the Optional Subject must be different from the three languages already studied.
What this batch will study
According to CBSE's FAQ, students in this batch study 9 subjects:
| Subject | How it is assessed in Class 10 (2027-28) |
|---|---|
| Language R1 | School internal assessment and board exam |
| Language R2 | School internal assessment and board exam |
| Mathematics | School internal assessment and board exam |
| Science | School internal assessment and board exam |
| Social Science | School internal assessment and board exam |
| Language R3 | School internal assessment only |
| Art Education | School internal assessment only (grades) |
| Physical Education and Well-being | School internal assessment only (grades) |
| Vocational Education | Kaushal Vikas: school only, or a Skill Subject: board exam |
Students can also choose Mathematics Advanced and Science Advanced, which are optional and have a board exam, and one Optional Subject, which has internal assessment and a board exam.
Passing Class 10 under this scheme
- A student must score at least 33% in each of the five main board subjects: Language R1, Language R2, Mathematics, Science and Social Science.
- The 33% is counted on internal assessment and the board exam together. CBSE's own example: 24 out of 80 in the board exam plus 9 out of 20 in internal assessment makes 33 out of 100, which is a pass.
The choice that matters most: Kaushal Vikas or a Skill Subject
This is the decision parents of Class 9 students should think about now.
- A Skill Subject can save a failed main subject. If a student scores below 33% in Science, Mathematics or Social Science but passes the Skill Subject, CBSE replaces the failed subject with the Skill Subject when computing the result.
- Kaushal Vikas cannot. The circular states clearly that there is no such replacement for students who choose Kaushal Vikas.
- A Skill Subject also brings a certificate. Students who pass the board exam in a Skill Subject receive an NSQF certificate, and the subject appears on the CBSE marksheet.
- Kaushal Vikas means one less board exam. It is assessed only by the school, which issues its own certificate to students who score at least 33%.
There is a similar safety net for languages: a student who takes an extra language as the Optional Subject can use it to replace R1 or R2 if they score below 33% in one of them.
What parents of Class 9 students should do
- Do not panic about the viral posts. For the current Class 10 batch, nothing changes. For Class 9, Individuals in Society, the CT & AI modules and (in Class 10) Environmental Education are simply not part of this batch's scheme.
- Check which Vocational Education options your child's school offers: Kaushal Vikas, or Skill Subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology or Data Science.
- Weigh the safety net. For a student who is less confident in Science, Mathematics or Social Science, a Skill Subject's replacement rule can be valuable.
- Read the circular yourself on the CBSE Academic website. It includes a clear set of FAQs.
Our posts on CBSE's two board exams for Class 10 and CBSE vs GSEB explain other recent changes to CBSE's Class 10 system.
CBSE Classes 9 and 10 at Keystone
Keystone Neev teaches Classes 7 to 10 for CBSE, GSEB and ICSE students, following what each school is covering. Each student has their own Mera Personal Mentor WhatsApp group, so parents see test results and attendance as they happen. Visit your nearest Keystone branch to know more.
Frequently asked questions
Has CBSE removed Environmental Education from Class 10?
For the students now in Class 9 (2026-27), who will be in Class 10 in 2027-28, Environmental Education will not be part of the curriculum. CBSE's circular says this is to align the introduction of the Inter-disciplinary Area with its implementation schedule.
Has CBSE made Artificial Intelligence compulsory?
No. Artificial Intelligence is one of 22 Skill Subjects a student can choose to meet the compulsory Vocational Education requirement. The circular also states that the Class 9 CT & AI modules will not be part of the curriculum for this batch.
Does the circular apply to students now in Class 10?
No. According to CBSE's FAQ, the old scheme continues for the current Class 10 (2026-27) batch.
Is there a board exam for Kaushal Vikas?
No. Kaushal Vikas is assessed only by the school. A student who chooses one of the 22 Skill Subjects instead will take a board exam in that subject in Class 10.
How many subjects will this batch study?
Nine: Language R1, Language R2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, Language R3, Art Education, Physical Education and Well-being, and Vocational Education. Students may also take one Optional Subject, and Mathematics Advanced and Science Advanced are optional too.
Where can I read the circular?
On the CBSE Academic website, cbseacademic.nic.in, as Circular No. Acad-70/2026 dated 29 October 2026.
