New Delhi. : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has amended its counselling-related affiliation norms through Circular No. 02/2026 dated 19 January 2026, issued via the SARAS portal. The amendment revises Clause 2.4.12 of the CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018, bringing important changes in the deployment of counselling and career guidance staff in CBSE-affiliated schools.
As per the revised norms, the Counsellor/Welfare (Wellness) Teacher requirement has been relaxed from the earlier ratio of 1 counsellor per 300 students to 1 counsellor per 500 students. This relaxation provides operational flexibility to schools while continuing to ensure structured mental health and socio-emotional support for students.
In addition, CBSE has mandated the appointment of a Career Counsellor in the ratio of 1:500 students, a provision that has now been clearly specified and formalised. This move underlines the Board’s emphasis on systematic career guidance, helping students make informed choices related to subjects, higher education, skills, and career pathways.
The Board has clarified that schools must ensure counsellors and career counsellors possess appropriate qualifications and training as prescribed by CBSE, and that these services should be available in a structured and continuous manner.
The amendment aligns with the broader vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which stresses student wellbeing, mental health support, and early career guidance as integral components of school education. Schools are advised to comply with the revised norms within the applicable timelines to maintain affiliation requirements.
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