HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

A trail of developments mark the significant changes that took place over the years in shaping up the Board to its present status. U.P. Board of High School and Intermediate Education was the first Board set up in 1921. It had under its Jurisdiction Rajputana, Central India and Gwalior, in response to the representation made by the Government of United Provinces, the then Government of India suggested to set up a joint Board in 1929 for all the areas and this was named as the "Board of High School and Intermediate Education, "Rajputana". This included Ajmer, Merwana, Central India and Gwalior.

The Board witnessed rapid growth and expansion at the level of secondary education resulting in improved quality and standard of education in its institutions. But with the advent of State Universities and State Boards in various parts of the country the jurisdiction of the Board was confined only to Ajmer, Bhopal and Vindhya Pradesh later. As a result of this, in 1952, the constitution of Board was amended wherein its jurisdiction was extended to part-C and part-D territories and the Board was given its present name "Central Board of Secondary Education", it was in the year 1962 finally that the Board was reconstituted. The main objectives were those of : serving the educational institutions more effectively, to be responsive to the educational needs of those students whose parents were employed in the Central Government and had frequently transferable jobs.

The jurisdiction of the Board is extensive and stretches beyond the national geographical boundaries. As a result of the reconstruction ,the erstwhile "Delhi Board of Secondary Education" was merged with the Central Board and thus all the educational institutions recognised by the Delhi Board also became a part of the Central Board. Subsequently, all the schools located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and the state of Sikkim got affiliation with the Board. From a group of 309 schools in1962 the Board today has approx 9000 schools which include Kendriya Vidyalayas, Government and Government Aided Schools, Independent Schools, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and  Adhoc Schools.

In order to execute its functions effectively and maintain the educational standards, the Board has decentralised its administration. As a result, Regional Offices have been set up in different parts of the country to be more responsive to the affiliated schools. Besides Ajmer and Chennai, the Board has regional Offices in Allahabad, Guwahati, Panchkula and Delhi. The headquarters constantly monitors the activities of the Regional Offices, although, sufficient powers have been vested with the Regional Offices. Matters pertaining to day-to-day administration, liaison with schools, pre and post examination arrangements are all dealt with by the respective regional offices. Issues involving policy matters are, however, referred to the head office.

JURISDICTION OF REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE BOARD

CBSE is a self- financing body which meets the recurring and non-recurring expenditure without any grant–in–aid either from the Central Govt. or from any other source.  All the financial requirements of the Board are met from the annual examination charges, affiliation fee, PMT examination etc.