Is NCERT the same as my school board (like CBSE/ICSE)?

This is a very common point of confusion for many students and parents. The short answer is No, NCERT is not a school board. They are two different types of organizations with distinct, albeit related, functions. Understanding this difference is key to planning your academic strategy effectively.

What is NCERT? (The Curriculum Body)

As explained earlier, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an academic advisory body. Its primary responsibilities are:

• Research & Development: It conducts research in school education.
• Curriculum Design: It creates the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), which serves as a guideline for what should be taught in schools nationwide.
• Textbook Publication: It develops and publishes model textbooks based on the NCF. These books are known for their simple language, focus on core concepts, and promotion of analytical thinking.
• Teacher Training: It develops training materials and programs for educators.

Think of NCERT as the architect and author of the educational content. It creates the blueprint (curriculum) and writes the book (textbooks), but it does not conduct examinations or affiliate schools.

What is a School Board? (The Examination & Affiliation Body)

A school board, like the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) or CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations), which conducts the ICSE and ISC exams, is an administrative and examination body. Its main functions are:

• Affiliating Schools: It grants affiliation to schools that agree to follow its guidelines.
• Prescribing Syllabus: It prescribes the syllabus for the affiliated schools. In the case of CBSE, this syllabus is based almost entirely on the curriculum and textbooks provided by NCERT.
• Conducting Examinations: Its most visible role is to conduct the final examinations for various classes, most notably the Class 10 and Class 12 Board Exams.
• Awarding Certificates: It awards pass certificates to students who successfully clear the examinations.

Think of a school board as the school administrator and examiner. It ensures schools adhere to a certain standard, conducts the final assessment, and certifies the students.

Here is a table to summarize the key differences:

The Crucial Connection: The relationship between NCERT and CBSE is symbiotic. CBSE has adopted the NCERT curriculum, which is why students in CBSE-affiliated schools study NCERT textbooks. When you appear for a CBSE board exam, you are being tested on the content presented in the NCERT books.

However, a board like CISCE (for ICSE/ISC exams) designs its own curriculum and has its own set of prescribed textbooks, which are different from NCERTs. Therefore, an ICSE student would not primarily use NCERT books for their school exams.

For students looking to excel in the CBSE board exams, a deep understanding of NCERT books is paramount. To further strengthen this foundation, resources from Infinity Learn can be invaluable. They provide practice question banks and mock tests designed specifically around the CBSE exam pattern but rooted in the core concepts of NCERT, helping bridge the gap between reading the textbook and being exam-ready.