Bhubaneswar: In a major step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, annual examinations for students of Classes V to VIII in Odisha will be conducted starting March 2026.
The School and Mass Education Department has issued a directive to conduct these exams in the first week of March, marking a shift from the earlier automatic promotion system under the no-detention policy, which was in place since the Right to Education (RTE) Act was enacted in 2009.
On July 9, 2025, the Odisha government officially amended its RTE Rules in July 2025 to reintroduce a fail-and-remediation mechanism for these classes. Th
is is in line with the NEP, which emphasises on structured assessments at key stages of schooling to ensure academic readiness before promotion to higher grades.
According to the guidelines, each subject paper will carry 50 marks, featuring a balanced mix of question types: 60% descriptive (subjective) questions to test comprehension and 40% objective questions focused on recall and basic understanding. A key highlight of the new system is the remediation and second-chance provision. Students scoring below 30% aggregate will enter a special remediation programme lasting 4 to 6 weeks. They will then appear for a supplementary exam in the third week of April 2026. If they fail to meet the promotion criteria even in the re-exam, they will be required to repeat the class.
By introducing these competency-based assessments, Odisha aims to ensure that children are genuinely ready for higher classes, making the state one of the early adopters of NEP’s guidelines on structured evaluations at foundational and preparatory stages.