Vocational subject to be compulsory from Class 9 in UP Board schools

Starting with the 2026–27 academic year, the Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education will mandate that every student enrolling in Class 9 select one vocational subject, officials said. The move represents one of the most significant curriculum changes undertaken by the board in recent decades.

The requirement will expand the total number of subjects assessed in board examinations. The high school examination in 2028 will be conducted with seven subjects instead of six, while the Intermediate examination in 2030 will include six subjects, up from the current five.

Education officials said the change is intended to embed vocational training within mainstream schooling rather than treat it as an optional track. The sixth subject at the Class 9 level will be drawn from a range of vocational courses already offered by UP Board–affiliated schools.

Under the revised framework, students will continue to study a fixed set of core subjects. These include Hindi or Elementary Hindi as the first language, a second language selected from a modern Indian language, English, or a classical language such as Sanskrit, Pali, Arabic, or Persian. Mathematics or home science will be offered as a third subject, with home science available only to girls. Science and social science will remain compulsory.

Board officials said the restructuring aligns with broader national efforts to strengthen employability and practical skills at the school level, particularly for students who may not pursue higher academic education.

The policy shift signals a recalibration of secondary education in Uttar Pradesh, as the state seeks to link classroom learning more directly with workforce readiness.