The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced new guidelines allowing affiliated schools to establish branch schools for classes from Bal Vatika (pre-primary) to Class 5.
The decision, based on the recommendations of the affiliation committee, has been approved by the CBSE Governing Body and Controlling Authority.
The guidelines stipulate that branch schools must maintain independent physical infrastructure and staff, including headmasters and teachers with qualifications recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Special educators must also be appointed to cater to the diverse needs of students.
Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, schools meeting the eligibility criteria can begin submitting applications through the SARAS 6.0 portal. These branch schools can only be established in areas where land requirements for schools have been relaxed as per Chapter 3 of the affiliation Bye-Laws 2018.
This development is expected to improve access to quality primary education and align with the goals outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The CBSE’s proactive approach aims to address the educational needs of young learners and support their foundational growth.
