The Times of India

When 'Basic' feels like Standard: Why the CBSE Class 10 Maths paper sparked tears and turmoil

The CBSE Class 10 Mathematics 2026 examination has sparked concern among students who opted for Basic Maths, with many claiming the paper felt closer to Standard level in difficulty. Teachers from Delhi schools highlighted tricky, lengthy and allegedly misaligned questions, including a Geometry shaded region problem. While CBSE has not termed the paper out-of-syllabus, the episode has raised questions about policy intent, student expectations and the credibility of the BasicStandard differentiation.