Table of Contents
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) is the national assessment regulator set up by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). It is responsible for:
Setting common standards for student assessments across boards.
Reducing disparities in marking and grading systems between states.
Developing model question banks to guide state boards in aligning with national benchmarks.
Ensuring equivalence in assessment practices so that a student from one state board is not at a disadvantage compared to another.
In simple terms, PARAKH aims to bring equity and comparability in board exam systems, which currently vary greatly across India.
📌 HBSE Leads the Way
The Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) has emerged as a frontrunner in completing its PARAKH-aligned question banks. This initiative covered major subjects, ensuring that the difficulty level, question structure, and evaluation patterns are in line with national standards.
By finishing the task ahead of many other states, HBSE has set a strong example of proactive adoption of educational reforms. The board’s commitment reflects its broader focus on improving the quality of education and ensuring that Haryana’s students are on par with their peers across India.
📌 Other State Boards That Completed Question Banks
Along with HBSE, four other state education boards have also completed the development of their PARAKH-based question banks. While the names of all participating boards vary across updates, the initiative covers diverse states with different education ecosystems. This reflects the national effort to bring everyone on the same platform of equivalence.
These states, together with HBSE, now serve as early adopters of the system, paving the way for other boards to follow.
📖 Why Question Banks Matter
Question banks are curated collections of exam-oriented questions prepared by experts, covering the full syllabus in a standardized format. Their importance in the PARAKH equivalence initiative lies in several areas:
Standardization of Assessments – Students across states face uniform difficulty levels and similar question formats.
Equity in Higher Education Admissions – Universities and colleges can better compare scores of students from different boards.
Reduced Learning Gaps – Students from rural or smaller boards get the same exposure to quality assessments as those in larger or more resource-rich boards.
Improved Teaching Practices – Teachers can align classroom instruction with the nationally benchmarked question banks, ensuring consistency.
Fairness in Competitive Exams – Since board exam questions are aligned nationally, preparation for exams like JEE, NEET, or CUET becomes more balanced.
Benefits for Students
For students, this initiative is especially significant:
Equal Opportunity: Students from HBSE and other boards can now compete more fairly at the national level.
Reduced Pressure: Uniform difficulty levels reduce the fear of one board being “harder” than another.
Better Preparation: With access to standard question banks, students get a clear picture of what to expect in exams.
Smoother Transition to CUET & Higher Education: Since the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) is now the gateway for higher studies, aligning board-level question banks makes the transition smoother.
📌 Benefits for Teachers and Schools
Teachers and schools also benefit in several ways:
Curriculum Alignment: Teachers can design lesson plans knowing the question patterns are aligned with PARAKH standards.
Training and Capacity Building: Exposure to standardized question banks improves teacher training and assessment practices.
Fair Evaluation: Schools can conduct internal assessments that mirror national-level expectations.
📌 Alignment with NEP 2020
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes reforming assessments to make them more competency-basedrather than purely rote-learning oriented. The PARAKH initiative directly supports this by:
Encouraging application-based questions.
Promoting conceptual clarity over memorization.
Ensuring that assessments test critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
HBSE and the other four boards that completed their question banks are thus not only meeting a national directive but also contributing to the larger vision of educational transformation.
📌 The Road Ahead
While five boards have completed the task, many more state education boards are still in the process of developing their PARAKH-aligned question banks. Over the coming months, it is expected that all state boards will follow suit.
Key future steps include:
Nationwide Implementation: Rolling out these question banks in all states for board exams.
Continuous Updates: Regularly revising question banks to match evolving syllabi and learning outcomes.
Training Programs: Equipping teachers with skills to use these question banks effectively.
Integration with CUET & Other Exams: Ensuring board exams prepare students for higher-level competitive exams seamlessly.
Challenges Ahead
While the initiative is highly beneficial, there are challenges that need to be addressed:
State-Specific Syllabus Variations: Aligning diverse curricula with a national framework.
Resource Gaps: Smaller or rural boards may lack resources to adapt quickly.
Teacher Training Needs: Large-scale training is required to ensure effective use of standardized question banks.
Resistance to Change: Some stakeholders may prefer the old system and resist adopting new reforms.
📍 Conclusion
The completion of PARAKH-aligned question banks by HBSE and four other state boards is a landmark achievement in India’s journey toward assessment equivalence and educational equity. By leading the way, HBSE has set a strong example for other boards to follow.
This initiative will level the playing field for students, improve teaching practices, and bring greater fairness to both board exams and competitive examinations. As more boards complete their question banks, India will move closer to a truly standardized, competency-based education system, fulfilling the vision of the National Education Policy 2020.
