Big Relief for Parents: CBSE Removes Countersignature Requirement on Transfer Certificates

In a move that will bring immense relief to thousands of families every year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially discontinued the mandatory countersignature on Transfer Certificates (TCs) when a student moves from one CBSE-affiliated school to another.

What Has Changed?

Until now, whenever a student wanted to change schools (whether within the same city, different city, or even different states), the receiving school would insist on a countersigned TC. This meant the TC issued by the previous school had to be sent to the regional CBSE office or the concerned state education authority for verification and countersignature before the new school would grant admission.

This process often took weeks (sometimes months), especially during peak admission seasons or when families relocated urgently due to job transfers. Parents had to run from pillar to post, and in many cases, children missed valuable school days.

With the latest circular (No. CBSE/COE/2024 dated 15 November 2024), CBSE has completely done away with this requirement for transfers between two CBSE-affiliated schools.

Key Highlights of the New Rule

• No countersignature needed on TCs when a student is moving from one CBSE-affiliated school to another CBSE-affiliated school (irrespective of location or state).
• The receiving school can directly verify the affiliation status and other details of the previous school through the official CBSE portal (cbse.gov.in → School Directory → SARAS/OASIS links).
• Schools have been directed to accept the original TC issued by the previous affiliated school without insisting on countersignature.
• This change is effective immediately and applies retrospectively as well (pending TCs can now be processed without countersignature).

When Does Countersignature Still Apply?

The old countersignature rule continues to be applicable only in the following cases:

• Admission from a non-CBSE school (state board, ICSE, IB, etc.) to a CBSE school
• Admission from a CBSE school to a non-CBSE school
• Migration to or from schools abroad (except where specific bilateral agreements exist)

Why This Matters

Every year, lakhs of families relocate because of transferable jobs (government, defence, banking, IT, etc.). Until now, school admission used to be one of the biggest pain points. With this single step, CBSE has:

• Reduced paperwork and bureaucratic delays
• Ensured students don’t lose academic days
• Made inter-state and intra-state transfers seamless
• Brought CBSE procedures in line with the digital and ease-of-living vision

What Should Parents Do Now?

1. Collect the original Transfer Certificate from the current school as before.
2. Submit it directly to the new CBSE school along with other required documents.
3. If any school still insists on countersignature for inter-CBSE transfer, politely show them the latest CBSE circular (available on cbse.gov.in under “Recent Announcements”).
4. In case of difficulty, you can write to the Regional Officer or use the CBSE grievance portal.

Final Thoughts

This is one of those rare administrative reforms that directly and immediately improves the lives of ordinary citizens. Kudos to CBSE for listening to long-standing parental grievances and acting decisively.

If you’ve been struggling with school transfers in the past, share your experience in the comments – I’m sure thousands of parents will thank CBSE today!

Safe and smooth admissions to all the little ones! 🚸

(Original CBSE Circular: Acad-88/2024 dated 15.11.2024 – check cbseacademic.nic.in or cbse.gov.in for the official copy)