As per the New Education Policy 2020, students will be evaluated based on their talents, which is referred to as competence.

CBSE Competency-Based Questions (CBQs) are designed to assess students’ understanding and practical application of their learning.

Unlike traditional questions that focus on memorization, CBQs prompt students to think critically, solve problems, and demonstrate creativity.

For example, instead of asking for a specific date, a CBQ might explore the impact or significance of an historical event.

What is Rote Learning or Memorization?

“Rote learning is a process of recalling information based on repetition”. According to Edgar Dale, we forget 90% of what we have learned within just 24 hours through this memorization process.

Changes for Classes IX-XII Year-End Board Examinations (2024-25)

• Classes IX-X maintain the composition of exam papers with 50% competency-focused questions, 20% MCQs, and 30% constructed response questions from the previous academic year.
  
• Classes XI-XII see an increase in competency-focused questions (from 40% to 50%) and a decrease in constructed response questions (from 40% to 30%), while MCQs remain at 20%.

CBSE 2025 Pattern for 2025 Boards Examination [in detail]

1. Competency Focused Questions = 50%

These questions assess understanding and application of competencies, not just rote memorization.

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  • Definition: Questions with a stem and options, where only one answer is correct.
  • Example: “Which of the following is the main function of the respiratory system?”
    • A) Digestion B) Circulation C) Breathing D) Excretion
  • Purpose: Tests recall and application in a structured format.
    
• Case-Based Questions
  • Definition: Questions based on scenarios or case studies.
  • Example: “A patient presents with shortness of breath and chest pain…”
  • Purpose: Evaluates ability to analyze and apply knowledge in new situations.
    
• Source-Based Integrated Questions
  • Definition: Questions using external sources (text, image, graph) for analysis.
  • Example: “Given a graph of population growth, explain the observed trend.”
  • Purpose: Assesses interpretation and analysis of information from various sources.

2. Select Response Type Questions (MCQ) = 20%

These questions require selecting the correct answer from options provided.

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
  • Definition: Questions with options, one correct answer.
  • Example: “What is the capital of France?”
    • A) London B) Berlin C) Paris D) Madrid
  • Purpose: Tests recall of factual information and basic understanding.

3. Constructed Response Questions = 30%

These questions require constructing answers, either brief or detailed.

• Short Answer Questions
  • Definition: Questions needing concise answers.
  • Example: “Define photosynthesis.”
  • Purpose: Tests recall and ability to express ideas briefly.
    
• Long Answer Questions
  • Definition: Questions needing detailed, structured responses.
  • Example: “Explain the process of cellular respiration.”
  • Purpose: Tests depth of understanding and ability to organize and express ideas comprehensively.

Conclusion

• CBSE aligns assessment practices with NEP 2020, focusing on Competency Based Education.
• Emphasis on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and practical application of concepts (holistic learning).
• Objective to move away from traditional rote memorization.

About Mrs. Swati Dhawan Bhargava

Most people know her as the Co-Founder of CashKaro and EarnKaro, India’s largest Cashback and Coupons app and the country’s first Social Cashback App. But to her friends and family, she is recognized as a pioneering girl from the small town of Ambala, India.

She was fortunate to receive a scholarship from the Government of Singapore for high school, followed by another scholarship to study at the London School of Economics (LSE). After graduating from LSE, she worked at Goldman Sachs London for five years before co-founding the UK-based Cashback business, Pouring Pounds, with her husband, Rohan Bhargava.

In 2013, the concept was brought to India, leading to the launch of CashKaro. Today, CashKaro has over 18 million downloads, stands as the only VC-backed Cashback site in India, and has raised approximately $15 million in funding from Kalaari Capital and Korea Investment Partners. Additionally, investment was received from Ratan Tata, former Chairman of Tata Sons. CashKaro drives more than $500 million in sales annually.

Her passion for inspiring others has led to her being a keynote speaker at various prestigious forums, including IIT, ISB, ET Women Empowerment Summit, TiECon, TEDx, AdTech, IAMAI Forums, Economic Times Conferences, Niti Aayog, and Delhi Government initiatives, as well as media panels and the launch of Satya Nadella’s book “Hit Refresh” hosted by Microsoft.

Achievements of Mrs. Swati Dhawan Bhargava till date

• Being listed in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in June 2019
• CashKaro being certified as a Great Place to Work
• Winning the ‘Best Affiliate Award’ at the India Affiliate Summit
• Being among the few women entrepreneurs to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss India’s startup ecosystem
• Receiving the Best Service Offering Company in the E-commerce Industry at India’s first Digital Women Award
• Serving as Co-Chair of H2 India, a global leadership network for the digital industry
• Being nominated among the Top Young Business Women by CNBC-TV 18
• Being recognized as one of the top 10 women entrepreneurs by Iamwire.com
• Being honored as one of four women trailblazers in the Indian e-commerce industry by Economic Times
• Being shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in the UK in 2011
• Being nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum

Entrepreneurs led Curriculum

1. Visualization should be an integral part of education starting from school onwards.
2. While the focus is often on academics and achievements, it is essential to also teach mental health and spiritual growth.
3. Feeling good has helped me attract better opportunities from the universe.
4. If I had known about writing affirmations and visualization during my school years, it would have positively impacted my life and possibly made me more successful.
5. Exams are often associated with negativity; we frequently hear comments like, “This person has exams, it’s such a difficult time, they struggle with math, how will they manage?”
6. We need to teach students how to handle exam stress and educate parents to avoid spreading negativity.
7. If a student writes affirmations like “I will do very well in exams” before their exams, they harness the power of affirmation, visualization, and manifestation—concepts that are beneficial for both students and parents.
8. These practices foster an entrepreneurial mindset.
9. A startup is a natural byproduct of an entrepreneurial mindset.
10. Entrepreneurs operate with accountability because they own their outcomes.
11. Employees can behave like entrepreneurs by leading without a title.
12. An employee might find excuses for expenses, thinking it’s not their money, whereas an entrepreneur treats company money as their own, such as remembering to turn off a Google Ads campaign at night.
13. Excel should be learned as a hard skill from an early age; it enhances efficiency in HR, branding, marketing, and UX. Our organization is committed to teaching Excel.
14. Research is a crucial skill; it is the first step in performing any task effectively.
15. To progress further, learning Excel alongside financial modeling is vital—for instance, a child contemplating starting a business needs to model its potential growth to turn it into reality.
16. Unlike gambling, where outcomes can’t be influenced, taking risks involves informed decisions based on thorough research and understanding opportunity costs.
17. There should be a 50:50 ratio of academics to co-curricular activities. Academics provide a strong foundation, teach the process, and help students develop concentration skills.
18. However, academics alone are not enough; other skills such as communication, interpersonal relationships, debate, and sports are also essential.
19. The balance between academics and co-curricular activities during my school years enabled me to earn scholarships to Singapore for my 11th and 12th grades and then to the London School of Economics.
20. Few people want to focus solely on academics or co-curricular activities unless they are national or international players, which most people are not.
21. I transformed from a manager to a leader during my entrepreneurial journey. We all start off managing tasks, telling others what to do.
22. I learned the difference between being a manager and a leader.
23. Transitioning from manager to leader involves inspiring others to do their best without constantly overseeing them.
24. Besides working hard, I learned how to pitch effectively—we raised 250 crores in funding, and I led all those funding rounds.
25. As a woman, I was confident in pitching to male investors. This exposure taught me multitasking, organization, and motivation.
26. Coming back to soft skills, it is crucial for a leader to know how to recharge their own energy.
27. At work, everyone looks to you for guidance; if you are depleted, you have nothing to offer.
28. Find ways to recharge—emotionally through a morning routine, spiritually through meditation, or intellectually by reading to stay knowledgeable and respected.
29. Maintaining positive energy requires constant effort.
30. Learnings from Mr. Ratan Tata include never stopping, never giving up, and continuously striving to make an impact, even at his age.
31. Girls should be ambitious, and parents should encourage them to pursue their aspirations.
32. Don’t be shy about expressing your dreams and ambitions.
33. We are not studying to get a good husband; we pursue higher education for our personal and professional growth.
34. A good husband should not be the ultimate goal in life.
35. I have a great husband, and the right person will come at the right time.
36. Girls should speak up, chart their own paths, and focus on their self-development.

Hear Directly from Mrs. Swati for ELC

Last Words

She mentioned – Visualization is one of the important thing in child’s early age. Keep on hustling, never stop like Mr. Ratan Tata. Girls should speak up and must have some ambition in their life.

About Snehil Khanor

Mr. Snehil Khanor is a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of TrulyMadly, one of India’s largest matchmaking apps with nearly ten million downloads. Snehil advocates for sustainable business practices, coining the term ‘Frugile Methodology’ (Frugal+Agile) for startups.

Career Highlights

Snehil began his entrepreneurial journey 14 years ago, launching a social networking site, along with music and video streaming portals, while still in school. In 2011, while studying Computer Science, he joined Letsbuy, an e-commerce startup, and developed their mobile app and site, contributing to its acquisition by Flipkart in 2012.

He later co-founded Findyahan, a services marketplace, which was acquired by Zimmber in 2016, where he served as Vice President of Product & Marketing until Zimmber’s acquisition by Quikr.

In 2017, Snehil joined Spice Digital Limited as Vice President, leading the government project ‘UMANG’, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Returning to TrulyMadly in 2018, Snehil has significantly grown its user base and revenue.

Investments and Mentorship

Snehil is also an angel investor and mentor to nearly a dozen startups, including Almo Wear, Stage/WittyFeed, TheManCompany, and Unshaadi.

Education & Personal Life

Snehil holds a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from Apeejay College of Engineering, Gurugram, and enjoys traveling, photography, reading, and playing online games in his leisure time.

Entrepreneurs led Curriculum

1. Developing personal qualities like patience is essential, especially when there’s constant firefighting, as it also increases tolerance.
2. The comfort zone is a cycle—you repeatedly enter and exit it. A single routine followed for a long time becomes your comfort zone.
3. Although a daily routine may not always be followed, certain parameters must be met. For example, walking should be done either in the morning or night, but it has to be done, along with activities like reading a book or spending time on LinkedIn.
4. I aim for around six hours of sleep but often fall short.
5. Ninety percent of startups fail, so entrepreneurs must embrace uncertainty. Success, when it happens, is an asymmetrical outcome—high risk, high reward.
6. Education should not be entirely equated with entrepreneurship, as they involve very different mindsets.
7. Not every entrepreneur is suited for a traditional job, but 99% of people need to work in jobs. Not everyone can embrace uncertainty.
8. An entrepreneurial mentality often struggles to succeed in a traditional job setting.
9. Self-belief is crucial because no one else will believe in you. Self-confidence is built daily from a young age, with every small achievement contributing to it.
10. Both soft and hard skills are necessary—soft skills help you get a job, and hard skills help you perform well in that job.
11. Both types of skills are equally important.
12. Having only soft skills might get you the job, but you won’t be able to perform without hard skills.
13. The world and technology are changing so quickly that staying updated is not optional.
14. In school, you learn how to learn. The knowledge you gain there doesn’t directly apply to your job, but the learning process does.
15. School provides a safe space to learn and develop a creative side with an effective curriculum, but not everyone needs to be creative.
16. If an accountant wants to be overly creative, it can cause issues.
17. Creative individuals might struggle to follow processes.
18. Many young people avoid hard work, preferring to strategize instead.
19. Schools should teach the importance of hard work.
20. A job is just one-third of your life.
21. We often say that school learning doesn’t apply to work, but education is about more than just getting a job; it’s one-third of life.
22. To live a well-rounded life, you need well-rounded knowledge, which is taught in school.
23. College teaches survival skills and offers exposure to the outside world, both of which are beneficial.
24. A child who learns career skills during or after college can do well.
25. Books like “Good to Great,” “Zero to One,” and “Lean Startup” are excellent resources for students interested in startups.
26. Risk and reward are constant considerations in entrepreneurship.
27. A vegetable seller and a sage might both be happy, but an entrepreneur is driven by a purpose, which keeps them aligned. Others might not need a specific purpose to be happy.
28. A good life can be lived by going with the flow.
29. Financial independence isn’t about retiring at 40—what will you do for the next 50 years?
30. Financial independence should mean being able to buy basic necessities without second thoughts.
31. Life’s true independence often begins after 30. With financial independence, you won’t work resentfully.
32. Even though I might be able to retire based on calculations, I wouldn’t choose to live idly.
33. Entrepreneurship is about solving a problem you’re passionate about; otherwise, you won’t sustain it for long.
34. A vegetable seller or a freelancer can also be considered entrepreneurs.
35. Words are created for a reason—business was already a term, so why the need for “startup”?
36. Entrepreneurship is about a growth mindset.
37. While 99% of startups fail, 100% of entrepreneurs succeed in their growth and learning.
38. When we were young, we chose entrepreneurship without much dialogue or content around it—just the drive to do something on our own.
39. If we start teaching entrepreneurship like engineering or medicine, it will become another rat race.
40. Originally, entrepreneurship was an escape from the rat race, but if taught like engineering, it will become another rat race.
41. Many people pursue startups for the wrong reasons, which is not the right approach.
42. After the 8th grade, education should filter students to help them choose their own paths.
43. The curriculum is good, but equal emphasis must be placed on co-curricular activities, which often lack proper execution.
44. Entrepreneurship cannot be effectively designed into a course—it’s about creating something that didn’t exist before. Making it part of a curriculum diminishes its effectiveness.
45. Even if two entrepreneurs run the same type of business, each will do it differently.
46. Entrepreneurs don’t necessarily need formal education.
47. No curriculum can make an entrepreneur; MBA schools are designed to create managers.
48. Public speaking, creative competitions, and tech fests are beneficial if executed well.
49. Currently, the focus on academics harms co-curricular activities. The importance of these skills must be acknowledged.
50. Without knowledge of career options or exposure to them, how can you choose something? Exposure is crucial.
51. Introduction to a wide range of subjects is necessary to make informed choices.
52. The current education system was designed to produce factory workers. It needs improvement.
53. Alternatives like the International Baccalaureate (IB) exist, but they are costly because only a certain type of audience attends. If more people inquire about IB, it can become more affordable.
54. A 30% improvement in the education system is required and achievable alongside traditional education.
55. The education system, designed like a factory, with bells signaling period changes and lunch breaks, needs evolution.
56. Fundamental subjects can’t be changed, but the approach can be updated.
57. Learning public speaking can help you raise funds, become a creator, and get promotions in your job.
58. The endowment effect involves doing things with a sense of ownership.

Hear Directly from Snehil Khanor for ELC

Last Words

He mentioned – Entrepreneurship and Growth Mindset are two very different things. Today’s Education System has to be evolve by 30%. Exposure or Complete Execution of today’s system has to be done.