For the first time, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) students of Class 10 and 12 will take their exams that includes Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) that will put to test, their application skills.

The question paper is designed in such a way that students should be able to answer all the questions within the stipulated time, besides revising them.

This year too, they will be given an additional 15 minutes so that they get sufficient time to read the questions carefully. Internal evaluation in Maths, Social Science and Science subjects and oral testing in languages will be introduced for Class I to X.

“We need industry support not only for framing curriculum but also for the transition of curriculum. This is going to be a paradigm shift for Class 11 and 12. One of the reasons for the change is the 11th Plan, which is about universalisation of secondary education,” Mr Ganguly said.

On new subjects for Class 12, he said it will be more skill-based. One of them has already been implemented — creative writing and translation. “Some of the programmes we are planning to introduce are films and media, heritage crafts and others,” he said.

The chairman said the board is thinking of introducing nanotechnology at school-level. “We are thinking whether to introduce in science or as a separate subject,” he added.