CBSE Reforms 2025-26: Class 12 Accountancy Students Can Use Calculators, Digital Evaluation & More

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to implement groundbreaking changes in the academic and examination landscape, marking a significant shift toward modernized education. These reforms, which will take effect starting from the 2025-26 academic year, aim to enhance student assessment, streamline grading, and align CBSE with global education standards.

Class 12 Accountancy Students Can Now Use Calculators

In a major relief for Class 12 accountancy students, CBSE has approved the use of basic, non-programmable calculators during exams. This decision, made during CBSE's 140th governing body meeting, is a step towards reducing cognitive overload while maintaining analytical rigor. The permitted calculators will be limited to basic functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentage calculations, ensuring that students focus on financial concepts rather than manual calculations.

This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), which advocates for a stress-free and concept-driven learning experience. Additionally, this initiative brings CBSE's examination policies closer to international standards, where controlled calculator usage is common.

CBSE Goes Digital: On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Evaluations

Another game-changing reform is the introduction of digital assessment through On-Screen Marking (OSM). Under this system, answer sheets will be scanned and digitally evaluated, making the grading process quicker, more accurate, and transparent.

CBSE plans to roll out OSM for Class 10 and 12 supplementary exams in science and mathematics as well as for revaluation requests starting in the 2024-25 academic session. This shift to digital evaluation is expected to eliminate human errors, ensure uniformity in marking, and significantly reduce result-processing time.

New Re-Evaluation Process for Students

For students seeking a review of their exam scores, CBSE has introduced a revised re-evaluation system effective from 2025 board exams. This change aims to increase transparency and fairness in marking, addressing long-standing concerns over errors and discrepancies in evaluation.

With this new framework, students can expect a structured and reliable reassessment process, reducing ambiguity and enhancing confidence in the board's evaluation methods.

Curriculum & Examination Structure Overhaul

CBSE's reforms go beyond assessment methods, extending to curriculum and skill-based subject evaluations. The board is set to collaborate with external vocational education experts to ensure that industry standards are met in skill-based subjects. This partnership will enhance employability skills among students pursuing vocational education.

Moreover, Class 10 students will soon experience a flexible examination system. Starting in the 2026-27 academic year, they will have the option to choose between standard and advanced-level exams for science and social science subjects. The advanced-level exams will be longer and include more complex questions, allowing students to demonstrate deeper subject mastery.

Student-Centric Approach to Education

These progressive reforms indicate CBSE's commitment to modernizing education, reducing stress, and improving evaluation accuracy. From allowing calculators in accountancy to introducing digital assessments and structured re-evaluations, CBSE is setting new benchmarks in student-friendly academic policies.

As these changes roll out over the next few years, students, parents, and educators can look forward to a more transparent, efficient, and globally competitive education system.