The Odisha government has introduced a significant reform for Class 9 examinations: for the
academic year 2025-26, students will now be allowed to bring their textbooks and notes into
the exam hall—a format commonly referred to as “open-book exams.” This move is aimed at
shifting the educational focus from rote memorisation to conceptual understanding, application,
and critical thinking skills.
What Does the Announcement Mean?
Open Book Exam Policy: Class 9 students in Odisha government schools will be permitted
to consult their notes and textbooks during examinations.
Purpose: The goal is to encourage students to understand subjects deeply and use their
knowledge to solve real-world problems, rather than just remembering facts.
Subjects Covered: The open-book format applies to all core subjects including language,
mathematics, science, and social science.
Implementation: Schools will be given guidelines to conduct these exams effectively,
ensuring that students do not simply copy material but demonstrate analytical and
interpretive skills.
Context and National Alignment
This change is in line with similar initiatives taken by educational boards such as CBSE for
academic session 2026-27, inspired by the National Curriculum Framework for School Education
NCFSE 2023 and the National Education Policy NEP 2020. Odisha is adopting a progressive
approach to align the assessment system with modern educational standards
Official Announcement Link
The policy has been highlighted on government and reputable educational news outlets, but for
the direct official announcement and guidelines, visit the Odisha School & Mass Education
Departmentʼs official portal:
Odisha School & Mass Education: https://sme.odisha.gov.in
Odisha Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan OSEPA: https://osepa.odisha.gov.in
The government is expected to post further detailed circulars or notifications at these two official
sites.