CBSE Allows Open Book Exams For Class 9 From 2026-27
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the introduction of open-book examinations for Class 9 students from the 2026-27 academic session. The move reflects a shift supported by a 2024 pilot study with Delhi University, aiming to foster critical thinking over rote learning, as evidenced by a 2014 CBSE Open Text-Based Assessment that reduced memorization pressure.
As per the reports, the open book exams will be integrated into internal assessments conducted by schools for class 9. These assessments will be part of the three pen-paper evaluations carried out in each academic term. While the framework will be recommended to schools, its implementations will not be mandatory.
It will serve as a model to guide schools that choose to adopt this mode of assessment. Schools will be provided with guidelines to conduct open-book exams effectively.
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This move aligns with the National Curriculum Framework’s 2023 recommendations, emphasising the need to move away from rote memorisation and towards competency-based learning.
However, the historical data from a 1987 UP Board experiment shows potential pitfalls: students neglected their studies, leading to poor performance and teacher resistance, suggesting a need for careful implementation to avoid undermining memory skills vital for higher education.
Research from the Journal of Educational Psychology (2019) indicates open-book exams can enhance problem-solving when paired with complex, application-based questions, yet a 2023 Future Education Magazine analysis warns of risks like cheating and surface-level learning if not structured with strict guidelines.
