The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued a circular on October 7, 2026, regarding the rerun of the second cycle of NISHTHA courses for the academic year 2026–27. The initiative aimed to strengthen the professional competencies of teachers, school heads and teacher educators through continuous professional development (CPD).
NISHTHA, the National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement, is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It provides professional learning opportunities to help educators adopt contemporary teaching methods, respond to emerging educational priorities and improve the quality of teaching and learning.
NISHTHA Courses Offered During Cycle 2
The second cycle covered the period from October 2026 to March 2027 and included online courses under two categories.
1. NISHTHA Category II – Proficiency Courses
These courses were intended for school heads and teachers working at the Foundational and Preparatory stages, up to Grade 5.
- NISHTHA Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)
- NISHTHA Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
2. NISHTHA Category III – Advanced Courses
These courses were open to all school heads and teachers and covered the following topics:
- Cyber Hygiene Practices: Personal Digital Devices
- Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste (E-waste)
- Action Research
- Catch the Rain (English)
- Catch the Rain (Hindi)
Important Course Dates
The circular specified the following schedule for the second cycle:
- Course commencement: October 1, 2026
- Enrolment deadline: March 10, 2027
- Course completion deadline: March 15, 2027
How to Access the Courses
Educators could access the course list and enrolment details through the official NISHTHA course portal.
Course portal: https://ciet.ncert.gov.in/NISHTHA_Courses
For assistance, participants could contact the NISHTHA helpdesk:
- Email: nishtha.helpdesk@ciet.nic.in
- Toll-free number: 8800440559
CBSE requested all Principals and Heads of affiliated schools to share the information with their staff and encourage teachers to take advantage of these professional development opportunities.
The initiative reinforced the importance of continuous learning in helping educators strengthen their teaching practices and respond effectively to the evolving needs of school education.
Official News: Click Here!
For the latest CBSE circulars, teacher training updates and school education news, follow School Samachar to stay informed.
