CBSE to Introduce Global Curriculum for International and Indian Schools

The Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE ) is preparing a global curriculum for its foreign schools, which can also be adopted by other international schools and CBSE-affiliated schools in India, according to officials. The board is currently finalising plans to introduce this curriculum from the 2026-27 academic session. A meeting has been scheduled this week to discuss the details before a draft is made publicly available. 

Last week, the Union Education Minister chaired a meeting where CBSE was instructed to create a detailed action plan for establishing and implementing the global curriculum. This new curriculum is part of a wider reform aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP), aimed at providing students with more flexibility and a globally competitive learning experience. It will be available at CBSE's foreign schools starting from the 2026-27 academic session. 

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A senior board official stated that international schools currently affiliated with other boards will also have the option to adopt this curriculum, and the same will apply to CBSE schools in India. 

This isn’t the first time CBSE has explored an international curriculum. In 2010, CBSE introduced the CBSE-i (Central Board of Secondary Education – International) as a pilot program in selected schools both in India and abroad. However, due to operational challenges and limited uptake, the program was discontinued by the board in 2017. 

The official stated, that the proposed global curriculum will compete with international boards such as Cambridge International (CI) and the International Baccalaureate (IB), offering a more flexible curriculum and teaching approach. The new curriculum will also incorporate elements of CBSE’s local curriculum, blending aspects of the NCERT curriculum with international standards to maintain a balanced educational offering. 

At present, CBSE does not offer an international curriculum, and international schools are affiliated with boards like CI, IB, or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations. The introduction of the new global curriculum will broaden CBSE's educational offerings, providing schools with an additional option for a globally aligned yet flexible syllabus. 

The official stated that CBSE is preparing to re-enter the international education sector with the finalisation of its pedagogical structure and framework in the coming months. The curriculum, set to launch in April 2026, will offer students an education that combines national priorities with global learning standards. 

(With PTI Inputs) 

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