Register now for the CBSE Reading Challenge 2025–26. The deadline for registration is September 1, 2025!
About the CBSE Reading Challenge 2025–26
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has announced the launch of the CBSE Reading Challenge 2025–26 through its Circular No. Acad-53/2025 dated 14th August 2025. This flagship initiative is a part of CBSE’s continuous efforts to enhance literacy, promote analytical ability, and encourage students to read with comprehension and critical engagement.
Unlike conventional exams, this challenge goes beyond rote learning and seeks to develop higher-order skills such as:
- Synthesizing information from multiple texts
- Drawing logical inferences
- Evaluating the relevance and credibility of information
- Cultivating a lifelong love for reading
Why the Reading Challenge Matters?
Reading has always been a cornerstone of learning, but in the 21st-century knowledge economy, it is no longer enough to read passively. Students today must become critical readers—able to interpret, analyze, and question the text before them.
The CBSE Reading Challenge serves three important purposes:
- Promoting Reading Culture – Encouraging students to enjoy reading in Hindi and English.
- Building Critical Skills – Developing essential skills like comprehension, logical reasoning, and problem-solving.
- Recognizing Talent – Providing a national platform where students can showcase their reading skills and be recognized by CBSE.
Who Can Participate?
- Eligibility: Students of Classes 6 to 10 from CBSE-affiliated schools.
- Languages: The challenge will be conducted in English and Hindi. Students may choose one language only.
- Categories:
- Category I: Classes 6 & 7
- Category II: Classes 8, 9 & 10
- Fee: Absolutely free of cost, a student enrichment activity by CBSE.
Structure of the Challenge
The Reading Challenge 2025–26 will be conducted in two rounds:
Round I (School Level – Offline)
- Registration: Schools affiliated to CBSE must register their students online via the CBSE Academic portal.
- Dates: 18th August – 1st September 2025
- Question Papers: Will be available from 8th to 11th September 2025 for download by registered schools.
- Mode: Conducted offline at the school level.
- Selection: Schools must identify top 10 performers (2 from each class, 6–10, in Hindi/English). In case of a tie, schools may hold a screening test.
Round II (National Level – Online)
- Nomination by Schools: Top 10 students (2 per class, one in English and one in Hindi) are registered by schools.
- Registration Window: 15th – 26th September 2025
- Mode: Online, computer-based test through the CBSE Reading Challenge Portal.
- Dates of Online Test: 8th, 9th, 13th & 14th October 2025
- Eligibility: Only schools that completed Round I and registered their students will be eligible.
Certification and Recognition
- Participation Certificates will be awarded to all students appearing in Round II.
- Certificates of Appreciation will be given to outstanding performers.
- Certificates will be issued online by CBSE, adding credibility and value to the student’s academic portfolio.
Important Instructions for Schools
- Schools must log in with their LOC credentials on the CBSE Academic portal.
- Coordinator details and computer infrastructure information must be updated before downloading papers.
- Question Papers and Answer Keys for Round I can be downloaded in both Hindi and English.
- For the Hindi category, Google Input Tools must be installed to type student and school names in Hindi.
- After Round I, student participation details must be uploaded before nominating students for Round II.
- Queries may be addressed to cbse.reading.mission@cbseshiksha.in with screenshots, if required.
Timeline
| Stage | Dates | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Registration for Round I | 18th Aug – 1st Sept 2025 | Schools register students (Classes 6–10, Hindi/English) |
| Download Question Papers (Round I) | 8th – 11th Sept 2025 | Schools download papers & conduct challenge offline |
| Nomination for Round II | 15th – 26th Sept 2025 | Schools register top 10 performers (2 per class) |
| Online Round II Test | 8th, 9th, 13th & 14th Oct 2025 | Computer-based Reading Challenge via CBSE Portal |
| Result Declaration | October 2025 | Winners notified on CBSE Academic Website |
How to Register?
Interested participants can register through this link.
Deadline
The deadline for registration is September 1, 2025.
