Major Changes in Indian School Education in 2026: AI, Double Board Exams, and Support for Failing Students

The Ministry of Education is set to introduce several major reforms in India’s school education system in 2026, aimed at reducing dropouts, improving learning outcomes, and integrating technology from an early stage.

Tracking Students with APAAR ID
The ministry has started issuing Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) IDs, generating over 25 crore IDs so far. This unique 12-digit ID will allow authorities to track students who fail or drop out, making it easier to identify students who do not continue from 10th to 11th grade. These IDs will also be linked to the Academic Bank of Credit and DigiLocker, enabling a seamless educational record-keeping system.

Support for Failing Students
The Ministry of Education plans to provide guidance and learning support to students who fail in board exams, ensuring they can complete education up to 12th grade. Information about failing students will be shared with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and open schooling branches will be established in select schools, starting with PM Shri Schools. Students who enroll through the open schooling system will receive certificates equivalent in value to regular schooling.

Why Students Drop Out
While gross enrollment ratio (GER) is near 100% at the elementary level and 90.3% at the middle school level, it drops to 68.5% in secondary and higher secondary education. Only 76% of students who start 1st grade reach 10th, and just 58% reach 12th grade. Factors include academic failure, financial constraints, and lack of access to schools, with boys more likely to drop out. Linking such students to open schooling and skill courses can enhance educational completion and future employability.

New Policies in 2026

1. Double Board Exam Policy for 10th Grade: CBSE will allow students to take the 10th-grade board exam twice, reducing exam stress and providing a second chance for those who underperform in the first attempt.
2. AI Education from Class 3: From the academic session starting April 2026, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be introduced as a compulsory subject from Class 3 across all states. Previously, CBSE schools offered AI from Class 8 as an optional subject.
3. New AI Curriculum and Textbooks: AI textbooks will be developed based on the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE). For senior classes (11th and 12th), a team of NCERT experts, IIT professors, and industry professionals will design the syllabus. Students will have access to AI learning right from the first day of the new academic session.
4. Innovative Teacher Education Programs: NCERT, after attaining ‘Deemed to be University’ status, is preparing unique teacher education programs. These will include postgraduate and doctoral research courses, as well as four-year integrated teacher education programs (ITEP) at the graduation level, offered on-campus and through blended learning models.

Towards 100% GER by 2030
The government’s goal is to ensure 100% enrollment and retention at the secondary and higher secondary levels by 2030, in line with the National Education Policy 2020. Special focus will be on students from economically weaker backgrounds, leveraging schemes like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to provide financial and academic support.

Conclusion
The upcoming reforms in 2026 are a significant step towards inclusive, technology-driven education in India. From AI integration at an early stage to supporting failing students and reducing dropout rates, the government is laying the groundwork for a smarter, more resilient generation of learners.