Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken action to enhance teacher training and technology-based learning for the 2026-27 academic year. This includes NISHTHA professional development courses for teachers and school heads as well as more than 845 curriculum-aligned Virtual Labs and digital learning resources.
NISHTHA, or National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement, is designed to enhance teaching skills through structured professional development.
The programme aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which requires teachers and head teachers to take part in at least 50 hours of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities annually.
NISHTHA Courses available through DIKSHA
Teachers can access NISHTHA courses through the DIKSHA platform. The current cycle includes programmes such as NISHTHA Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) and NISHTHA Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) that are available in different languages.
According to the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), NCERT, the current courses started on 21 April 2026. The enrolment deadline is 31 August 2026 and the courses will be completed on 15 September 2026.
Teachers can register on DIKSHA, log in, access the relevant course through its link or QR code and select the "Join Course" option. The NISHTHA programme includes pedagogy, leadership, foundational literacy and numeracy, ICT integration, inclusive education and subject-specific teaching practices.
More than 845 Virtual Labs Promoted
CBSE is also promoting Virtual Labs as part of teacher training to make classroom learning more interactive. More than 845 curriculum-aligned Virtual Labs and digital resources are being introduced to students to assist students in gaining practical knowledge through digital platforms.
Virtual Labs will be very useful in areas where practical demonstrations are important. They can supplement classroom teaching and help students to learn more about experiments and concepts digitally and in doing so, help schools integrate technology into everyday learning.
Focus on Future-Ready Education
The twin focus on teacher capacity building and digital learning is part of the overall push towards technology-enabled education. NISHTHA trains educators, and Virtual Labs offer additional digital resources for students.
CBSE’s recently launched initiatives are therefore aimed at promoting a technology-friendly teaching and learning atmosphere. With the NISHTHA enrolment window open until August 31, teachers and school heads should complete the necessary training on time as per their schedule.
