The Education Testing Service (ETS) CEO, Walt MacDonald, has expressed his support for India’s newly formed national assessment regulator, PARAKH. He believes that PARAKH will help bring uniformity across different school boards and improve the quality of education in the country. In this article, we will explore more about PARAKH and its significance in the Indian education system.
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Latest Update as on 02 Sep 2026
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Checked on 02 Sep 2026
As of 02 Sep 2026, no official update or notification has been fetched from authoritative sources regarding PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), India's first National Assessment Regulator established under NCERT.
As of 02 Sep 2026, no official update or notification has been fetched from authoritative sources regarding PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development), India's first National Assessment Regulator established under NCERT. PARAKH was set up to bring uniformity in evaluation standards across all school boards in India, reduce inter-board score disparity, and align assessments with the National Education Policy 2020. Its activities — including equivalence studies, competency-based assessment frameworks, and guidance to State Boards — are ongoing based on previously known mandates. Any further developments for the 2026-27 cycle are expected but remain officially unconfirmed at this time.
- PARAKH is expected to continue its mandate of standardising assessment frameworks across State and Central school boards — timeline for next major policy rollout unconfirmed.
- Equivalence framework for Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations across different State Boards is tentatively expected to be formalised in the 2026-27 academic cycle, based on earlier NCERT/PARAKH communications.
- National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) implementation by affiliated boards, including PARAKH-guided assessments, is expected to progress further in 2026-27 — no official date confirmed.
- Pilot assessments and standardised competency-based question banks developed by PARAKH may be shared with State Boards in phases — exact schedule unconfirmed as of 02 Sep 2026.
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development. It is India’s first-ever national assessment regulator, set up by the Ministry of Education in 2022. The primary objective of PARAKH is to ensure that the assessments conducted in schools and higher education institutions across the country are standardized and of high quality. PARAKH aims to bring about a paradigm shift in the assessment system and move away from the rote-learning approach to a more comprehensive and holistic assessment of students’ knowledge.
The Need for PARAKH
India has a diverse education system, with various school boards, universities, and assessment bodies. This has led to disparities in the quality of education and assessments across different regions and boards. PARAKH aims to address this issue by bringing about uniformity in the assessment process and ensuring that the assessments are of high quality, relevant, and comprehensive. This will help in creating a level playing field for all students and provide them with equal opportunities to succeed.
The Role of PARAKH
Major Changes This Year
No major change has been officially announced yet regarding PARAKH's assessment framework, equivalence norms, or board-level implementation guidelines as of 02 Sep 2026, since no official source material was available for verification. Based on previous years, PARAKH has been progressively working on standardising marking schemes and question paper designs across State and Central Boards. Any new directives, equivalence tables, or competency frameworks for the 2026-27 academic year are tentatively expected but cannot be confirmed without an official announcement.
PARAKH will be responsible for developing assessment standards, frameworks, and guidelines for different levels of education. It will also conduct audits and reviews of the assessment systems to ensure that they meet the required standards. PARAKH will work with different school boards, universities, and assessment bodies to implement the new assessment standards and ensure that the assessments are aligned with the learning objectives.
Impact of PARAKH
PARAKH is expected to have a significant impact on the Indian education system. It will help in creating a standardized assessment process, which will provide a better understanding of the students’ knowledge and skills. This will enable teachers to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their students and help them to design their teaching strategies accordingly. PARAKH will also help in improving the quality of education and make it more relevant to the changing needs of the society.
Conclusion
PARAKH is a significant step towards improving the quality of education in India. It will bring about uniformity in the assessment process and ensure that the assessments are of high quality, relevant, and comprehensive. With the support of organizations like ETS, PARAKH is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of education in India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PARAKH and what is its role in Indian school education?
PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) is India's first National Assessment Regulator, set up under NCERT as part of the National Education Policy 2020. Its role is to standardise assessment and evaluation practices across all school boards — including CBSE, State Boards, and others — to reduce disparities in marking and ensure comparability of scores.
Has PARAKH released any official update or notification in 2026?
As of 02 Sep 2026, no official update from PARAKH could be confirmed due to unavailability of official source material. Any developments cited on third-party sites should be treated as tentative and unverified.
Will PARAKH bring uniformity in board exam marks across all State Boards?
PARAKH's stated mandate includes developing equivalence frameworks to make marks across different State and Central Boards comparable. Work on this is ongoing based on previously known information, but a formal uniform marking system has not been officially declared as fully implemented as of the current date.
Is PARAKH linked to Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations?
Yes, PARAKH's work covers both Class 10 and Class 12 levels, with a focus on creating standardised assessment tools, competency-based question banks, and evaluation guidelines applicable to all affiliated school boards across India. Specific timelines for 2026-27 remain tentative.
How does PARAKH relate to the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020)?
PARAKH was established as a direct outcome of NEP 2020, which recommended a single national body to oversee assessment standards. It operationalises NEP's vision of moving away from rote learning toward holistic, competency-based evaluation across all school boards.
Which exam or board does PARAKH directly regulate?
PARAKH does not conduct its own examination. It is a regulatory and advisory body that sets standards, guidelines, and frameworks for all school boards in India — including CBSE, ICSE, and various State Boards — to follow in their own assessment practices.
Where can I find official updates from PARAKH?
Official updates from PARAKH are typically published on the NCERT website (ncert.nic.in) and the PARAKH portal. As of 02 Sep 2026, no new official notification has been confirmed. Candidates and schools should check the official NCERT/PARAKH portals directly for the latest authoritative information.
Is PARAKH expected to release any new framework or guideline in 2026-27?
Based on the trajectory of previous years, PARAKH is tentatively expected to release updated equivalence norms or competency-based assessment guidelines for the 2026-27 academic cycle. However, no official date or document has been confirmed as of 02 Sep 2026.
