UPSC Express

About: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

• The Central Board of Secondary Education was formed officially in 1962 with the sole purpose to make a common standard and platform for every student in the country.
  
• The Board has not been established under any statute.
  
• It can be treated only as an authority created by the Government of India to carry on certain objectives and functions as conferred on it.
  
• All schools affiliated to CBSE follow the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) curriculum.
  
• Controlling Authority:Secretary (School Education & Literacy), Ministry of Education
  

Examinations conducted by the Board:

• CBSE conducts the final examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 every year in the month of March.
  
• CBSE also conducts AIPMT (All India Pre Medical Test) for admission to major medical colleges in India.
  
• Apart from these tests, CBSE also conducts the Central Teacher Eligibility Test.
  

About: Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

• The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations is a privately held national-level board of school education in India.
  
• It conducts the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and the Indian School Certificate (ISC)
  

Difference between ICSE and ISC:

• The basic difference between ICSE and ISC is that ICSE is the examination conducted by CISCE for students of the 10^th
  
• On the other hand, ISC examination is conducted by the CISCE for students in standard 12^th.
  

Other Educational Boards in India:

• Apart from CBSE and CISCE, there are other national educational boards in the country as well.
  
• International Baccalaureate:
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) is a non-profit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968.
    
  • It focuses on analytical skills, language, arts and humanities. The purpose of the IB is to produce global citizens.
    
  
  
• State Educational Boards:
  • Every State and Union Territory within India has its own education board.
    
  • This State government-run board has two main exams. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) for class 10 and Higher School Certificate (HSC) for Class 12.
    
  • This board is ideal for parents who are settled in a particular state with no plan of moving out anytime soon.
    
  
  
• National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS):
  • NIOS is the board of education under the Union Government of India.
    
  • It was established in 1989 to provide education to all segments of society under the motive to increase literacy and aimed forward for flexible learning.
    
  • Open schoolingis a flexible education system that allows learners to learn where and when they want, physically away from a school and a teacher.
    
  • It also offers vocational courses after the high school.