Education Boards in India - The education sector of India has various national-level and state-level education boards. These boards are responsible for defining the academic journey of millions of students across the country. Each board has its unique curriculum and assessment criteria. These boards of education in India are responsible for conducting secondary and senior secondary board examinations. The educational boards in India prescribe syllabi, set exam patterns, release sample papers and conduct the board examination.
Some of the biggest national-level educational boards in India are CBSE, CISCE and NIOS. In this article, we will discuss in detail various state boards in India as well such as the UP board, Bihar board, MP board, Maharashtra board, Gujarat board, etc. Read the complete article to get more information related to various educational boards in India, the education board name list, and access their official website links.
If you are wondering, ‘How many education boards are there in India at the national level?’, then keep on reading further.
There are mainly three national education boards in India. These boards are responsible for shaping the academic journey of a large number of students. The names of boards include the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). These education boards in India cater to the different learning styles and needs of students.
The Central Board of Secondary Education conducts the CBSE 10th board exams and CBSE 12th board exams. It was established in 1962 and plays a pivotal role in standardising the curriculum and assessment systems in thousands of CBSE-affiliated schools.
In the academic year 2025-26, CBSE will tentatively begin the CBSE board examinations for 10th and 12th on February 17, 2026. Students can track the official CBSE website, cbse.gov.in to stay updated with the latest events, news, and information.
The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations is a prestigious education board in India responsible for conducting the ICSE 10th and ICSE 12th examinations. CISCE was established in 1958 and oversees a wide network of schools in India and abroad. Students can access the CISCE timetable 2026, CISCE syllabus, question papers, sample papers, and CISCE result 2026 through the official website, cisce.org.
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) provides an option of flexibility and an alternative path to traditional schooling. It was established in 1989 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and is currently the largest open school education board in India. NIOS conducts the NIOS 10th exams and NIOS 12th exams twice a year.
The NIOS Block 1 exams are conducted in April/May, and the NIOS Block 2 exams are conducted in October/November. Students can track the official website of NIOS, nios.ac.in to download sample papers, syllabus, etc. and get all the latest updates and information.
Each state-level education board in India is responsible for regulating and governing the school education system under its authority. The below-mentioned list of state education boards in India sets curriculum standards, ensures quality education and conducts board examinations. Check out the following list of major state-level education boards in India:
Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) is responsible for conducting the UP Board 10th exams and UP Board 12th exams. Students can visit the official website, upmsp.edu.in to download the UP board model papers, UP board exam date sheet and also check the UPMSP board results for 10th and 12th.
Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) conducts the Bihar matric and Bihar intermediate examinations in the state of Bihar. The Bihar board exam timetable 2026 is likely to be released in December, and the BSEB board exams 2026 are likely to be conducted in February 2026. Students can track the official website, biharboardonline.bihar.gov.in to get all the latest updates.
The Board of Secondary Education, Madhya Pradesh, conducts the MP Board high school exams and MP Board inter exams in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
The board releases the MP board exam time table 2026 PDF. Click on the link to know the 2026 board exam schedule. Students can visit the official website, mpbse.nic.in to get the latest updates related to the MP board 2026 examination.
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Pune (MSBSHSE) is an autonomous exam conducting authority for the Maharashtra board SSC and Mah HSC examination. MSBSHSE releases the Maharashtra board time table 2026. Click on the link to check the exam schedule for Maha SSC and HSC exams 2026. Students can also track the official website, mahahsscboard.in to get the latest information and updates.
The Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan, commonly referred to as RBSE is the exam conducting authority and administrative body in the Indian state of Rajasthan for classes 5, 8, 10 and 12th. RBSE releases the RBSE time table 2026 for classes 5, 8th, 10th and 12th through the official website, rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. and rajshaladarpan.nic.in. Track these official websites to download the latest syllabus PDF, RBSE model papers and get the latest updates on RBSE 2026 results.
Refer to the table given below to get information about state-level boards in India and their official websites. Through the medium of these websites, these education boards release all the latest information and updates regarding board examination, syllabus, question papers, 10th time table, 12th time table, sample papers, 10th results and 12th results and other information.
The perception of which educational board is the hardest in India can vary greatly based on individual experiences and academic expectations. Factors such as curriculum depth, examination patterns, and evaluation criteria contribute to these opinions. Many consider the CISCE (ICSE/ISC) board to be academically rigorous due to its emphasis on in-depth subject knowledge, English language proficiency, and internal assessments. However, the difficulty level is subjective and can differ from one student to another. With a focused study plan and the right resources, students can succeed in any board.
Similarly, determining the easiest board in India is not absolute and depends on various factors, including student preferences, learning pace, and subject choices. The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is often perceived as more flexible due to its learner-centric approach, broader subject options, and relaxed timelines. It is particularly supportive for students requiring alternative academic pathways. That said, success in any board depends largely on the student's dedication, preparation strategy, and time management.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are mainly three national level educational boards: CBSE, CISCE, and NIOS.
The perception of which educational board is the toughest in India can vary greatly depending on individual perspectives and criteria. The curriculum, examination patterns, and grading systems are some of the factors that decide the difficulty levels. Students just need to prepare strategically and score well in exams.
Students of all boards can crack competitive exams if they follow the prescribed syllabus, and prepare in a planned way.
The perception of the difficulty level of education boards varies from one person to another. However, the CBSE Board is considered to have an easier exam pattern and comprehensive curriculum.
CISCE focuses more on practical knowledge and its application while CBSE focuses more on theoretical concepts. The choice between CISCE and CBSE depends on individual preferences, curriculum, and educational goals.
Schools accept admissions in mid-terms only under special circumstances, such as transfer of Job.
CBSE board schools follow NCERT books.
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