CBSE Introduces Career Dashboard and Counseling Model

In a move to improve student wellbeing and provide career guidance opportunities, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced two key programs for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. These two programs are the Career Guidance Dashboard and the Counseling Hub and Spoke School Model. These program are initiated to help students with career advice and mental health support. The program is a digital platform that was launched on August 7, 2025 at a CBSE event in Dwarka, New Delhi, where over 500 principals, counsellors, wellness teachers and education experts were present.

It will benefit students to choose the right career and support their overall well-being. The platform is inclusive, scalable, and technology-driven in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This comprehensive program is a tool that is launched for teachers, students and education leaders alike. The Career Guidance Dashboard is available at cbsecareerguidance.in for students, teachers, and school leaders. The launch event included live demonstrations of how the Career Guidance Dashboard works and how schools can integrate it. CBSE has trained over 200 counsellors as Master Trainers to implement these initiatives effectively.

Key Features Include:

• Curated career insights aligned with national and global trends
• Personalized tools to explore student interests
• Easy access to career-planning and decision-making resources

Counselling Hub and School Spoke Model:

The second initiative of the counseling hub and school spoke model is designed to establish a structured support network where selected hub schools mentor several spoke schools to bolster mental health and socio-emotional learning across CBSE-affiliated schools. These hubs will involve surrounding schools to be chosen based on experience, basically more than 10 years and a strong infrastructure, counseling expertise, and proven track records for the program to be held.

Each hub will mentor 8-10 schools and will focus on four main pillars:

1. Awareness of mental health
2. Access to counseling services
3. Advocacy for well-being
4. Assistance through peer mentoring, parent-school links and crisis protocols.

The activities under these initiatives will include self-awareness and emotional literacy programs, digital safety workshops, mental health clubs, training for teachers, parents and support staff. Additionally, CBSE aims to strengthen the quality and sustainability of these programs through clear capacity-building objectives establishing professional learning networks for counsellors, setting quality benchmarks for counseling services, and promoting data-driven approaches for continuous improvement.

It will also involve monitoring & reporting which will hold monthly meetings and updates. Hub schools must submit consolidated reports, while spoke schools must provide activity-wise documentation to ensure quality and ongoing refinement. The monitoring will also identify challenges, share best practices, and refine the programs.

Many parents have supported this initiative as they feel reassured that their kids have access to professional guidance. CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh emphasized that both initiatives are “designed to benefit schools and students” and will evolve with stakeholder feedback. Secretary Himanshu Gupta highlighted the urgent need for structured career and mental health support systems in schools.

A principal praised the structured support system, whereas a student expressed relief that the dashboard helps reduce confusion about career choices. Stakeholders, including educators, students, and parents, have welcomed the programs. Both programs are designed to bridge the gap between urban and rural schools by ensuring equal access to quality career and mental health resources.

How does the CBSE initiatives benefit students?

The CBSE’s Career Guidance Dashboard and Counseling Hub & Spoke School Model offer students a structured path to make informed academic and career choices while supporting their mental well-being. Through a user-friendly digital platform, students gain access to curated career insights, personalised tools to explore their interests, and easy-to-understand resources aligned with national and global trends. This helps them identify their strengths, explore diverse opportunities, and choose the right educational or professional path with confidence.

Alongside career planning, the Hub & Spoke Model ensures students have access to trained counsellors and a supportive network for their emotional and social needs. Activities like self-awareness workshops, mental health clubs, and peer mentoring build resilience, emotional literacy, and life skills. By combining professional guidance with a culture of openness and early intervention, these initiatives promote both academic success and holistic personal growth.