J&K Govt Introduces New System for Class 8 Annual Exams
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced a new policy for conducting Class 8 annual examinations across the Union Territory, aligning the process with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to make assessments more competency-based and student-centric.
As per Government Order No. 629-JK(Edu) of 2025, dated October 11, 2025, all government and recognized private schools will now hold in-house Summative/Annual Exams for Class 8 under the supervision of Cluster or Complex Heads, beginning with the 2024–25 academic session.
The revised framework emphasizes continuous formative assessments, remedial teaching for underperforming students, and supplementary exams to ensure that every student is adequately prepared to advance to Class 9. The District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) will be responsible for maintaining student data and coordinating implementation through Cluster Heads.
The order, issued by Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma (IAS), also directs SCERT and DIETs to organize teacher training sessions on designing competency-based question papers, preparing Holistic Progress Cards, and adopting modern evaluation techniques.
School Heads will frame common question papers that address learning areas where districts recorded weaker performance in the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 report. The Director School Education will oversee exam scheduling, conduct, and monitoring.
Under the new timeline, results must be declared by March 20 in Summer Zones and by October 25 in Winter Zones. The new academic session will commence from April 1 in Summer Zones and from November 1 in Winter Zones.
Additionally, schools have been instructed to strengthen Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) to enhance regular communication and progress tracking of students.
