What is a ‘Nodal Centre’?

Correct option is D

A Nodal Centre is a centrally located educational institution that serves as an evaluation and coordination hub for academic activities, especially during examinations. These centres are typically selected based on their geographical location to ensure accessibility for multiple schools in the vicinity.

In the case of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), nodal centres are designated during board examinations to support nearby schools by serving as a hub for receiving and sending exam papers, providing space for evaluation, and assisting with other essential processes. These centres generally cater to a cluster of at least 10 schools, making them a key component of the examination and assessment system.

Information Booster:

1. Purpose of Nodal Centres – They ensure systematic handling of academic evaluations and secure distribution of examination materials.
2. Role in Examinations – They serve as a collection and dispatch point for board exam answer sheets.
3. Location Selection – Centrally chosen to benefit multiple schools within a specific region.
4. Security and Confidentiality – They maintain strict protocols to ensure question paper security and prevent leakage.
5. Impact on Examinations – Nodal Centres streamline logistics, ensuring that exams are conducted smoothly without disruptions.
6. CBSE and Other Boards – Many examination boards, including CBSE, ICSE, and state boards, use the Nodal Centre system.

Additional Knowledge:

(A) It is a school with all facilities to conduct CBSE board examinations and is easily accessible to students. (Incorrect)

This statement confuses a nodal centre with a regular exam centre. While an examination centre is a designated school where students appear for board exams, a nodal centre has a broader administrative role in evaluation and distribution of answer sheets. It does not necessarily serve as a student exam centre but rather supports exam processes behind the scenes.

(B) It is a model school that best demonstrates CBSE methods. (Incorrect)

A model school is an institution that serves as an example of best teaching practices, infrastructure, and pedagogy in line with CBSE standards. These schools are set up to promote quality education and may serve as training hubs for educators. However, they do not function as nodal centres, as their focus is on teaching methodologies rather than evaluation and exam logistics.

(C) It is a CBSE school in Delhi. (Incorrect)

While CBSE is headquartered in Delhi, a Nodal Centre can be located anywhere in India. It is not limited to Delhi-based CBSE schools. Schools in various regions are selected as nodal centres based on their proximity to other schools and their ability to manage exam-related logistics efficiently.