Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has launched a new digital assessment initiative, SHINE 2026. SHINE stands for Student Holistic Insight and Nurturing Evaluation. It will help schools better understand students' learning progress and provide support where needed. The registration process for the CISCE SHINE 2026 programme began on August 21. The initiative is designed to move beyond the traditional focus on annual exams. IT give schools a clearer picture of how students are learning at different stages.
The CISCE digital assessment initiative has been introduced in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. SHINE 2026 will assess students based on the learning competencies expected after Classes 3, 5 and 8. Students currently studying in Classes 4, 6 and 9 will take part in the assessment.
The evaluations are scheduled to be held from November 15 to November 30, 2026. The results will help schools identify areas where students are performing well as well as concepts where they may need additional guidance.
The evaluation format will differ according to the age and learning level of students. Students of Class 4 will take part in a game-based assessment. This makes the process more engaging and age-appropriate. Sstudents of Classes 6 and 9 will undergo digital assessments based on the competencies expected at the end of Classes 5 and 8, respectively.
The reports generated after the assessments are expected to give teachers and schools useful insights into individual learning patterns.
The new CISCE SHINE 2026 programme follows a pilot conducted last year, in which around one lakh students from 273 schools across India participated. The trial assessed academic understanding, reasoning, practical application of concepts and age-appropriate social and emotional development. CISCE aims to encourage a more continuous and meaningful approach to student assessment.
