CBSE's Composite Skill Lab Vision: Are Schools Prepared?
- Jun 23, 2026
The CBSE has established Composite Skill Labs in schools to encourage hands-on and experiential learning among students. These labs will provide vocational and skill-based education throughout all affiliated schools from 22.8.2027, aligned with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and NEP 2020.
Schools have been proposed to set up either 2 independent labs of 400 sqft. each for Grades 6 – 10 or 1 composite lab of 600 sqft. for Grades 6 – 12 and the other labs for Grades 11 & 12. The CBSE has made these composite labs compulsory for all schools, including those applying for new affiliation with the board.
Skill Subjects
The activities, sectors and skill subjects in these labs should constitute 3 wide areas of work: machines, materials, human services and life forms. Schools have been recommended to choose subjects based on resource availability, potential industry linkages and local context.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence
Nearly 86% of employers expect information and AI processing technologies to reshape their businesses by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025. AI, FinTech and Big Data are among the fastest-developing job sectors.
CBSE has recommended that schools build the required infrastructure to make students AI-ready in alignment with the Government of India's AI vision to nurture AI literacy and the NEP 2020. Institutions may use existing mechatronics labs and Atal Tinkering Labs to blend problem-solving and technology-driven learning into the curriculum.
In addition, schools are being assisted to offer students access to Artificial Intelligence tools, empowering them to discover technology-integrated innovative models and business ideas. This approach aims to support self-employment opportunities, equip students to create employment and nurture entrepreneurial thinking in the future.