The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the introduction of open book examinations for Class 9 students in its affiliated schools, starting from the 2026-27 academic session. Under this new system, students will be allowed to carry their textbooks, notes, and other study materials into specific examinations for subjects like languages, mathematics, science, and social science.
Each academic session will feature three paper-based open book tests, conducted within schools. The move is part of CBSE’s efforts to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, and follows results from a recent pilot study.
This is not the first time CBSE has experimented with such an approach — in 2014, the board had introduced the Open Text Based Assessment (OTBA) for select subjects. The open book format is designed to assess conceptual understanding, analytical ability, and critical thinking skills rather than rote memorisation.
If the initiative proves successful, CBSE may consider extending the open book examination system to Classes 10, 11, and 12 in the future.