CBSE warns schools: No more than 45 students per section—no exceptions

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a new circular for schools affiliated with the board which says they can now register up to 45 students per section in exceptional circumstances.

This move, outlined in Circular No. 11/2025, aims to address challenges faced by schools in accommodating students, particularly in cases involving transfers or other unique situations. The exception will apply only in cases where schools are unable to adhere to the regular limit of 40 students per section.

Key changes and background overview This circular comes as a follow-up to a previous decision by the board in August 2023, which relaxed the student limit from 40 to 45 for the academic sessions 2023-24 to 2025-26. The relaxation was introduced to help schools manage existing student numbers and ensure that admissions align with the prescribed norms. However, it was also expected that schools would work to gradually control the student intake and manage overcrowding in classrooms.

Earlier, in May 2024, CBSE introduced a modification allowing schools to admit students in mid-session or those falling under the "essential repeat" category beyond the 40-student limit, but only on a case-by-case basis. Schools were instructed to submit applications to the concerned Regional Offices for approval. This further revision expands the scope of exceptions to include a wider range of circumstances.

Conditions for admission beyond the limitUnder the new guidelines, schools can admit up to 45 students per section, provided they meet certain conditions. Schools are required to record the reasons for exceeding the limit in the online registration portal, as well as in the Admission & Withdrawal Register. This applies to all sections from classes 1 to 12.

Key conditions include:

• The school must ensure that classroom sizes are at least 500 square feet, in compliance with CBSE's requirement of one square meter of built-up floor area per student.
• No school is permitted to admit more than 45 students per section, even under exceptional circumstances.
• The reasons for admitting more than 40 students must be documented and approved via the OASIS portal.

The board has also emphasised that this exception applies only in cases where infrastructure permits, with an urgent request for schools to improve physical infrastructure where possible to eventually return to the optimal student-to-classroom ratio.

The complete notification can be read here.