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In a circular issued on January 19, 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officially amended its affiliation bye-laws to make the appointment of both mental health and career counselors mandatory for all affiliated schools. This reform aims to address rising academic stress and ensure students receive structured emotional and professional guidance. 

Key Requirements of the 2026 Mandate

Mandatory Ratio: Schools must maintain a 1:500 ratio, appointing one socio-emotional counselor and one career counselor for every 500 students in Classes IX to XII.

Dual Roles Required: The mandate split previous general wellness roles into two distinct full-time positions:

Counselling & Wellness Teacher (Socio-Emotional Counselor): Responsible for mental health support, crisis intervention, and social-emotional learning.

Career Counselor: Responsible for career assessment, guidance on higher education in India and abroad, and industry collaboration.

Mandatory Training: All newly appointed counselors must complete a 50-hour CBSE-recognised Capacity Building Programme (CBP) to ensure standardized support across all schools.

Exemptions for Small Schools: Institutions with fewer than 300 students in Classes IX to XII are permitted to engage counselors on a part-time basis. 

Eligibility Criteria

Socio-Emotional Counselors need a Bachelor's or Master's in Psychology or a Master's in Social Work with a focus on mental health. Career Counselors require a Bachelor's or Master's in fields such as Humanities, Science, Social Sciences, Management, Education, or Technology. If a qualified career counselor is unavailable, a trained teacher may fill the role but must get the necessary qualifications within two academic years. 

Implementation Support

CBSE supports rural and resource-limited schools through the Counselling Hub and Spoke Model, where larger "hub" schools share resources and guidance with nearby "spoke" schools. 

Official guidelines and forms are available on the CBSE SARAS Portal.