New Delhi | November 8, 2025
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce a new “Global Curriculum” from April 2026 for its overseas schools, starting with institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative is aimed at aligning Indian education with international standards while retaining the core values and ethos of the Indian education system.
According to CBSE, the curriculum will be designed to help students develop competencies relevant to a globalized world while staying rooted in the principles outlined in India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It will be implemented initially in the UAE, where the board has a significant number of affiliated schools, before being extended to other countries with Indian communities.
The Global Curriculum is expected to combine academic rigor, skill-based learning, and value education, with flexibility to adapt to the needs of diverse international student groups. CBSE said the framework would support holistic development, critical thinking, and cross-cultural understanding.
The initiative also reflects the board’s effort to modernize its international presence, enhance teacher training, and provide a more globally relevant academic experience for Indian students abroad.
Officials have indicated that details regarding subjects, structure, and assessment models will be shared with affiliated schools ahead of the pilot rollout in 2025. The board aims to ensure smooth implementation through consultations with school heads, educators, and international education experts.
CBSE currently has hundreds of affiliated schools operating in multiple countries, many of them concentrated in the Gulf region. The introduction of a Global Curriculum marks one of the board’s most significant steps toward expanding and standardizing its overseas educational framework.
