The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced an important reform by mandating the appointment of socio-emotional and career counsellors
in all its affiliated schools across the country. The transition is a break from the purely academic focus on what will prepare students and now addresses mental health and skills for the future. The order specifies the mandatory need for all CBSE affiliated secondary and senior secondary schools to have well trained professional counsellors. Every school should have a designated Counselling and Wellness Teacher for catering to students’ emotional, mental, and social needs and a regular Career Counsellor to counsel students on their career choices. CBSE decided to take this step following increasing concerns of academic pressure, anxiety, stress and uncertainty about career prospects among students. Absence of professional counselling support in most schools also led to that need for a uniformed system. The issue gained further attention following a Public Interest Litigation filed in the Rajasthan High Court, which stressed the importance of mental health care and career guidance in school education.
Implementation and Impact of CBSE’s Counselling Mandate
The rule comes into effect from January 19, 2026, the date on which CBSE issued the circular amending Clause 2.4.12 of its Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018. Schools are expected to comply with the new norms as part of their affiliation requirements.
The mandate applies across all CBSE-affiliated schools in India. To ensure implementation even in smaller institutions, CBSE has allowed a hub-and-spoke model, where well-resourced schools can support neighbouring schools.
The policy will work by maintaining a counsellor-to-student ratio of 1:500 and integrating counselling services into daily school functioning. Through this initiative, CBSE aims to create a supportive environment that nurtures emotionally healthy, confident, and career-ready students.
