CBSE revamps legal studies curriculum to teach repealed laws, BNS, landmark judgments

In a major overhaul, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed key changes in the curriculum of legal studies textbooks for Classes 11, 12 including the repeal of laws such as Triple Talaq and Sedition, and the approval of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), among other reforms.

Starting from the 2026-27 academic session, the senior secondary students will study updated laws in the nation’s legal system along with landmark judgments and legal doctrines. Among the CBSE curriculum revision are the key provisions of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, repealed section 377, and “a modern, engaging pedagogy aligned with NEP 2020 ".

The central board will constitute an expert committee and may engage a content development agency to get the updated textbooks ready for the new session.

The decision comes in the wake of major reforms brought in India’s legal framework since the introduction of these books. The CBSE officials noted that the legal studies textbooks were developed for Classes 11th and 12th around five years ago to build foundational legal literacy among the students of senior classes.

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“Since then, India's legal framework has undergone major reforms, including the repeal of key colonial-era laws and the enactment of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) in 2023-24, replacing the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act respectively,” state the official minutes of a CBSE governing body meeting.

In the meeting held in June, the governing body ratified the recommendations of the curriculum committee that gave a green signal to the changes in CBSE legal studies curriculum.