Introduction

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has been established as an apex organization to control the system of ISC/ICSE education in India. The council was established in 1958 by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate to ensure that its examinations become adapted to the educational needs of the country. The main purpose of setting up this council was to replace the overseas Cambridge school Certificate Examination conducted by British authorities.

The key objectives of the Council is to promote education which includes the promotion of science, literature, the fine arts and the diffusion of useful knowledge by conducting school examination through the medium of English. The Council is a non profit organization and is only meant for educational development in the country.

CISCE has manifold responsibilities. It has been constituted to secure suitable representation of governments responsibilities for schools (which are affiliated to it) in their states/territories; the Inter–State Board for Anglo–Indian Education; the Association of Indian Universities; the Association of Head of Anglo–Indian Schools, the Indian Public School Conference; the Association of Schools for the ISC Examination and eminent educationists.

The main function of the council is to conduct Indian School Certificate Examinations, namely, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE – Year 10); The Indian School Certificate (ISC – Year 12) and the Certificate in Vocational Education (CVE – Year 12).

Research, Development and Consultancy Division (RDCD) is another wing of the council which is actively involved in studying the areas of concerns in education. The council through its innovative research and analysis develops effective teaching – learning provisions. The RDCD prepares syllabi for each of the three examinations and also updates them from time to time. The continuous assessment and development of curriculum frameworks have made CISCE’s education and training relevant, challenging and exciting.