The Central Board of Secondary Education on Wednesday announced to have ‘Applied Mathematics’ paper as an academic elective for 10+2 level from this academic year (2020-21 session). As per CBSE Applied Mathematics paper will teach students practical application of math in different fields. The decision was taken on advice from the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

Now, the class 11 students in CBSE schools will have the option to choose from Mathematics and Applied Mathematics.

As per the CBSE circular, the Applied Mathematics paper will be offered to students in Senior Secondary classes with an aim to provide relevant experience in Mathematics which can be used in fields other than Physical Sciences. The Board hopes that the new subject will teach students skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, logical reasoning, mathematical thinking etc.

Students who have passed Basic Mathematics in Class 10 will be allowed to take the new academic elective ‘Applied Mathematics’ at Senior Secondary Level. Last year, CBSE had introduced a Basic Mathematics paper which could be opted by students who do not wish to continue studying Mathematics in class 11 and 12.

Accordingly, Class 11 students, who had opted for the Applied Mathematics Skill subject in 2019, will be offered Applied Mathematics Academic Elective in class 12 this year. The ‘Applied Mathematics’ paper which was offered as a Skill Subject until last academic year will be discontinued from this year onward.