In a thoughtful initiative towards supporting the infrastructure of open schooling in India, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked all schools affiliated with it to extend their logistical assistance to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) for the upcoming public examinations to be held between October-November 2025. The instruction, issued in the form of an official circular to the institution heads and principals, acknowledges the central role played by the CBSE schools in allowing NIOS to organize examinations for lakhs of students across the nation.

NIOS, the largest open schooling system in India and an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Education, holds public examinations twice a year for Class X, Class XII students, and vocational and life-enrichment programmes. These assessments are crucial to those students who, owing to various socio-economic, geographical, or personal grounds, may not be able to attend the mainstream school systems. The October-November 2025 session is likely to see an enormous number of examinees, and available and reliable examination centres become all the more important.

The CBSE circular appealed to board-affiliated schools to make themselves available as examination centres and indicate interest in acting as so. The notice states that conducting these tests entails the provision of basic facilities in classrooms in the shape of normal classrooms, seating, invigilation assistance, and compliance with all safety and test requirements. The board claims these provisions are essential for the continuation of the credibility and trouble-free administration of the tests, particularly in view of the increasing scale and complexity of open schooling in India.

The CBSE notification states: “The following Public Examinations of NIOS is most likely to be conducted during the month of October/November, 2025.” It also informs that schools intending to avail themselves of this national programme should register themselves online on the website of NIOS. The same can be done by logging onto https://exams.nios.ac.in/, selecting “Examination Centre,” and then “Register Now.”

This partnership between CBSE and NIOS has existed but with growing need for adaptive learning and examination centers in the post-pandemic era, its relevance has increased manyfold. NIOS serves a huge genre—working class, youth from rural areas, drop-outs, differently abled learners, and many more for whom formal schooling is not possible. Proximity of examination centers to their place of residence can be a deciding factor for them in studies.

The CBSE has made a point to emphasize the wider importance of this effort in its communication: “Your help will enable NIOS to conduct Public Examinations of its students.” This request is consistent with the national vision of accessible and inclusive education. Schools, by making their spaces available, are not only doing their bit for a national agenda but also upholding the principles of equity and outreach in education.

Historically, all this affiliation has assisted NIOS to function well even in far-flung and under-developed parts of the country. CBSE-affiliated schools with their well-established infrastructure and trained personnel are well placed to handle the quantity and quality needs of NIOS. Through advance admissions, NIOS can efficiently run examination centers and make arrangements like question paper despatch, posting of examiners, and centre security, which are crucial in upholding the sanctity of the examination process.

School principals are being asked to confirm the process earliest because preparation and planning for high-stakes exams need apt coordination. From ensuring infrastructure to arrangement of personnel for invigilation activity, those schools that confirm early will enable NIOS to organize its processes in a smooth manner and avoid last-minute jitters.

This partnership is in line with the broader vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasized flexibility, inclusivity, and the use of technology and infrastructure to expand access to quality education. In its effort to develop a more inclusive education system, India has created drivers of change in the form of such partnerships as this one between CBSE and NIOS.

With this collaborative effort, CBSE and NIOS seek to provide an accessible and responsive exam setting to open school learners, most of whom desire to overcome learner and systemic obstacles to learning. With their function as examination centres, CBSE schools reaffirm their commitment to people-centred development and education justice.

October-November 2025 public examination success will also rely heavily on institutions’ ability to accelerate this national education challenge. CBSE’s appeal is not an administrative order but an appeal to action towards a more participative and compassionate education system where infrastructure, institution, and purpose unite to function as a prop for the learner traversing walks of life.