The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched the CBSE Reading Challenge 2025-26, a unique initiative aimed at cultivating a sustained interest in reading among students. The programme is thoughtfully designed to enhance not only foundational reading abilities but also higher-order literacy skills, enabling students to synthesise information, draw logical conclusions, and critically evaluate the relevance and credibility of texts.
The challenge is open to students from classes 6 to 10 in CBSE-affiliated schools, providing them with a student enrichment activity at no cost. The programme seeks to strengthen students’ reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and linguistic proficiency while promoting lifelong learning habits.
TIMELINE AND STRUCTURE OF CBSE READING CHALLENGE 2025-26
The activity is scheduled to take place during August, September, and October 2025, and will consist of two rounds:
First Round:
- All participating schools may register for this round.
- Conducted offline at the school level, this round aims to engage students in reading exercises and comprehension activities.
- Detailed instructions and guidelines are provided in Annexure-1 of the official notification.
Second Round:
- Participating schools may nominate and register the top ten performing students, with two students from each class (6 to 10). Students are selected for both English and Hindi categories.
- For participation in Hindi, it is mandatory that schools type the student name and school name in Hindi, requiring installation of Google Input Tools on their computers.
- This round will be conducted online through the CBSE Reading Challenge portal, offering students a platform to demonstrate their reading proficiency in a competitive setting.
Language Options and Participation Categories
The CBSE Reading Challenge 2025-26 will be conducted in both Hindi and English languages. Students can participate in only one language per class. The categories of participation are as follows:
- Category I: Classes 6 to 7
- Category II: Classes 8 to 10
Certification and Recognition
Students participating in the second round will receive an online Participation Certificate from CBSE. Additionally, outstanding performers will be awarded a Certificate of Appreciation, recognising their exceptional achievement in literacy and comprehension skills. This recognition serves to motivate students and encourage them to further enhance their reading and analytical abilities.
The CBSE Reading Challenge 2025-26 is not only an opportunity to improve literacy skills but also a platform for students to develop critical thinking, comprehension, and analytical capabilities that are essential in academic and professional pursuits. By fostering a culture of reading, CBSE aims to empower students to become informed, thoughtful, and articulate individuals, for more details and participate CLICK HERE
