Which board does a school follow, and what does it mean for your child? This guide explains the international, national and state boards used by schools in India, with a detailed page for each board.
International boards
Curricula set by organisations outside India and used by schools around the world. Schools must be authorised by the organisation before they can offer them.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
A non-profit education foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Programmes
- Primary Years Programme (PYP), ages 3 to 12
- Middle Years Programme (MYP), ages 11 to 16
- Diploma Programme (DP), ages 16 to 19
- Career-related Programme (CP), ages 16 to 19
A school can offer one or more IB programmes; each needs separate IB authorisation. Many IB schools in India also offer CBSE, CISCE or Cambridge.
Read the full IB guide →5 schools on The School Chronicles →Official website
Cambridge International
The international exam board of the University of Cambridge, UK.
Programmes
- Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary
- Cambridge IGCSE, usually taken at ages 14 to 16
- Cambridge International AS and A Level, ages 16 to 19
Often called "IGCSE schools" in India. Schools choose their own mix of subjects from the Cambridge range.
Read the full Cambridge guide →6 schools on The School Chronicles →Official website
National boards
Boards that work across India, with the same syllabus and exams for affiliated schools in every state.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
A national board of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Education.
Exams
- Class X board exam (Secondary School Examination)
- Class XII board exam (Senior School Certificate Examination)
Most subjects follow NCERT textbooks. From 2026, Class X students can sit a second board exam to improve their scores. Delhi has no separate state board; Delhi government schools are affiliated to CBSE.
Read the full CBSE guide →174 schools on The School Chronicles →Official website
Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)
A private, non-government national board based in New Delhi.
Exams
- ICSE: Indian Certificate of Secondary Education, Class X
- ISC: Indian School Certificate, Class XII
Schools are often described as "ICSE schools" after the Class X exam.
National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
The open schooling board of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Education.
Exams
- Secondary course (Class X level)
- Senior Secondary course (Class XII level)
Lets learners study at their own pace, outside a regular school timetable.
State boards
Boards run by a state government for schools in that state. The state sets the syllabus and the Class X and XII exams.
Board of School Education Haryana (HBSE)
The Haryana government's school board, based in Bhiwani.
Exams
- Class X (Secondary) exam
- Class XII (Senior Secondary) exam
Relevant for schools in Gurugram and the rest of Haryana.
Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP Board)
The Uttar Pradesh government's secondary education board, based in Prayagraj.
Exams
- High School exam (Class X)
- Intermediate exam (Class XII)
Relevant for schools in Noida, Greater Noida and the rest of Uttar Pradesh. One of the largest school boards in India by number of candidates.
Choosing between boards
- Check what the school is affiliated to or authorised for. CBSE schools list their affiliation number in their mandatory public disclosure; IB and Cambridge schools are listed on those organisations' own websites.
- Ask which board applies to which classes. Many schools offer more than one board, for example CBSE up to Class X and the IB Diploma for Classes XI and XII.
- Think about moving cities. National and international boards make it easier to change schools across states or countries.
- Look at the exams at the end. The Class X and XII exams (or their international equivalents) are what colleges see.
Board details are taken from each board's official website. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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