The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has dropped three subjects from the new scheme of studies for students now in Class 9. Under Circular No. Acad-70/2026, issued on October 29, 2026, the subject Individuals in Society and the Modules of CT&AI will not be part of the Class 9 curriculum for 2026-27, and Environmental Education will not be part of Class 10 when this batch moves up in 2027-28.
CBSE said the change is meant “to align the introduction of this curricular area with the implementation schedule”. The circular also settles how Vocational Education will work for this batch — and that part asks every Class 9 student to make a choice with real consequences for their Class 10 Board result.
Current Class 10 students are not affected. CBSE’s FAQ states that the old scheme continues for the Class 10 batch of 2026-27.
What CBSE Has Changed for the Class 9 Batch
| Area | Decision for Class 9 (2026-27) progressing to Class 10 (2027-28) |
|---|---|
| Individuals in Society (Class 9) | Not part of the curriculum for this batch |
| Modules of CT&AI (Class 9) | Not part of the curriculum for this batch |
| Environmental Education (Class 10) | Not part of the curriculum for this batch |
| Vocational Education | Stays compulsory — choose Kaushal Vikas or any one of 22 Skill Subjects |
| Other optional subjects | All optional subjects from the 2025-26 scheme continue |
| Current Class 10 (2026-27) | No change — old scheme continues |
The circular, signed by Dr. Praggya M. Singh, Professor and Director (Academics), asks schools to “widely disseminate this information among students and all stakeholders”. It can be read on CBSE’s academic website: Circular No. Acad-70/2026 (PDF).
Kaushal Vikas or a Skill Subject: The Choice That Matters
Vocational Education remains a compulsory curricular area. To meet it, a Class 9 student must pick one of 23 options: either Kaushal Vikas, or any one of 22 Skill Subjects notified by the Board. The two routes are assessed very differently:
| Kaushal Vikas | Any one of 22 Skill Subjects | |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment in Class 10 | School-based internal assessment only | CBSE Board Examination |
| Certificate | Issued by the school, for a minimum of 33% | Shown on the CBSE marksheet, plus an NSQF certificate on passing |
| Can replace a failed main subject? | No | Yes — can replace a failed Science, Mathematics or Social Science |
The last row is the one parents and students should read twice. Under CBSE’s replacement rule, if a student scores below 33% in any one of Science, Mathematics or Social Science but passes the Skill Subject, the Skill Subject replaces the failed subject and the Class 10 result is computed accordingly. CBSE spells out that this safety net does not exist on the other route:
“It may be noted with clarity that there is no provision of such replacement in case a student has opted for Kaushal Vikas to meet the curricular requirement of Vocational Education.”
CBSE Circular No. Acad-70/2026, FAQ Q11
In plain terms: Kaushal Vikas avoids an extra Board exam, but it gives up the one rule that can rescue a Class 10 result when a student fails Maths, Science or Social Science. A Skill Subject means one more Board paper — and an insurance policy on the three subjects students most often struggle with.
The 22 Skill Subjects
| Code | Subject | Code | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | Retail | 412 | Marketing & Sales |
| 402 | Information Technology | 413 | Health Care |
| 403 | Security | 414 | Apparel |
| 404 | Automotive | 415 | Multi Media |
| 405 | Introduction to Financial Markets | 416 | Multi Skill Foundation Course |
| 406 | Introduction to Tourism | 417 | Artificial Intelligence |
| 407 | Beauty & Wellness | 418 | Physical Activity Trainer |
| 408 | Agriculture | 419 | Data Science |
| 409 | Food Production | 420 | Electronics and Hardware |
| 410 | Front Office Operations | 421 | Foundation Skills for Sciences (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology) |
| 411 | Banking & Insurance | 422 | Design Thinking and Innovation |
Artificial Intelligence Is on the Skill Subject List
This detail is easy to miss. In April, CBSE’s Circular Acad-18/2026 said that all other courses on AI run until 2025-26 “are being discontinued for class IX, session 2026-27 onwards”, with NCERT to provide CT&AI modules for Classes 9 to 12 instead. The new circular removes those CT&AI modules for the current Class 9 batch — and lists Artificial Intelligence (code 417) among the 22 Skill Subjects this batch may opt for, assessed through a Class 10 Board exam.
Students interested in AI should check with their school which Skill Subjects it actually offers, since schools do not offer all 22. For background on the CT&AI framework for the junior classes, see our report on the CBSE CT&AI handbooks for Classes 3 to 8.
Subjects to Study in Class 9 and Class 10
With the interdisciplinary area and CT&AI modules removed, students in this batch will study nine subjects, and may add one optional subject:
- Language R1
- Language R2
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science
- Language R3
- Art Education
- Physical Education & Well-being
- Vocational Education (Skill Education)
The optional subject can be picked from a list of 57 — 45 languages, six Carnatic and Hindustani music subjects, 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 those taken as R1, R2 and R3. Mathematics Advanced and Science Advanced are also available as optional subjects.
All Class 9 subjects are assessed in school during 2026-27, as per the assessment rubrics already in the syllabus.
Which Subjects Will Have Board Exams in Class 10 (2027-28)
| Subject | Assessment in Class 10, 2027-28 |
|---|---|
| Language R1, Language R2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science | Internal Assessment + Board Examination |
| Mathematics Advanced (optional) | Board Examination |
| Science Advanced (optional) | Board Examination |
| Optional subject | Internal Assessment + Board Examination |
| Skill Subject (if chosen instead of Kaushal Vikas) | Board Examination |
| Kaushal Vikas (if chosen) | School-based internal assessment only |
| Language R3 | School-based internal assessment |
| Art Education | School-based internal assessment, grades only |
| Physical Education & Well-being | School-based internal assessment, grades only |
For Art Education and Physical Education & Well-being, schools will award only grades, from A1 to E, and issue their own certificates to students who secure grade D or above. Kaushal Vikas will carry both marks and grades.
| Marks range | Grade |
|---|---|
| 91-100 | A1 |
| 81-90 | A2 |
| 71-80 | B1 |
| 61-70 | B2 |
| 51-60 | C1 |
| 41-50 | C2 |
| 33-40 | D |
| Less than 33 | E |
Pass Criteria and Replacement Rules for Class 10
To pass the Class 10 Board examination, a student must score at least 33% in each of the five Board subjects — Language R1, Language R2, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. The 33% is counted on the aggregate of internal assessment and the Board exam together. CBSE’s own example: a student scoring 24 out of 80 in the Board exam and 9 out of 20 in internal assessment has 33 out of 100, and passes.
Two replacement rules apply:
- Skill Subject: replaces any one failed subject among Science, Mathematics and Social Science, provided the student passes the Skill Subject. Not available to students who chose Kaushal Vikas.
- Optional language: replaces a failed R1 or R2, provided the student passes the language taken as the optional subject.
Provisions for Children with Special Needs
Children with Special Needs (CwSN) must study one compulsory language with a Board exam. The remaining four Board subjects can be chosen from Mathematics, Science, Social Science, another language, one music subject, Painting, Home Science, Elements of Business, Elements of Book Keeping & Accountancy, Computer Applications, or a maximum of two Skill Subjects other than Automotive. Information Technology, Computer Applications and Artificial Intelligence cannot be taken together.
What the Circular Does Not Answer
The circular comes more than halfway through the 2026-27 session. It does not say how schools should treat the work, periodic tests or internal marks already recorded this year in Individuals in Society or the CT&AI modules. Students and parents with questions on this should check with their school, which is expected to receive further guidance from CBSE.
CBSE Class 9 Scheme of Studies 2026-27: FAQs
Does this change apply to students in Class 10 now?
No. The old scheme continues for the current Class 10 batch (2026-27). The changes apply to students in Class 9 in 2026-27 who will be in Class 10 in 2027-28.
Is Individuals in Society removed permanently?
The circular removes Individuals in Society, the CT&AI modules and Environmental Education only for this batch, to align the area’s introduction “with the implementation schedule”. It does not say they are scrapped for later batches.
Will there be a Board exam for Kaushal Vikas?
No. Kaushal Vikas is assessed only by the school. Schools award marks and grades and issue a certificate to students who score at least 33%.
Will students who choose a Skill Subject get a certificate?
Yes. Marks and grade appear on the CBSE marksheet, and an NSQF certificate is awarded on passing the Board exam in that Skill Subject.
How many subjects will have a Board exam in Class 10?
Five compulsory subjects — Language R1, Language R2, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. A student will have more Board exams only if they opt for an optional subject, Mathematics Advanced, Science Advanced or a Skill Subject.
This report is based on CBSE Circular No. Acad-70/2026 dated October 29, 2026, and its annexed Scheme of Studies and FAQs. For textbooks for the session, see NCERT Class 9 textbooks 2026-27.
