The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UP Board) has decided to make vocational education mandatory for students of Classes 9 and 11 starting from the academic session 2026, aiming to better link
school education with employability, officials stated on Friday.
UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh mentioned that subject committees have approved and submitted curricula for vocational trades such as information technology and related fields, electronics, apparel, beauty, and wellness, reported PTI.
He noted that subject experts developed the employment-oriented curricula through multiple meetings guided by Additional Secretary Satyendra Kumar Singh and Skand Shukla.
Singh explained that the expert committees’ approved curricula emphasise current technological requirements, industry expectations, and enhancing students’ employability. Practical, skill-based, and job-oriented content has been incorporated to ensure students acquire relevant competencies. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy’s (NEP 2020) objectives, promoting skill development, self-reliance, and vocational proficiency among students.
It is a significant step towards connecting school education with employment, providing practical knowledge to students, and preparing them for future challenges. Work on developing curricula for additional vocational trades is currently underway.
Singh also noted that the Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal, supported the preparation of the courses. Several subject experts, including Sanjeev Kumar Arya, Virendra Nath Shukla, Dr Aditi Goswami, Dr Dilip Singh, and Dr Avinash Pandey, contributed to the process.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) exams will start on February 18, 2026, and run until March 12, 2026. Exams will be conducted in two shifts: the first shift from 8:30 AM to 11:45 AM, and the second shift from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. The board also stated that all high school and intermediate exams will be conducted over 15 working days.
This year, a total of 5.23 million candidates have registered for the UP Board examinations, with 2.75 million in high school (10th) and 2.479 million in intermediate (12th). The exams will continue until March 12.
