The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is a
statutory and autonomous body established under the “Maharashtra Secondary
Boards Act” 1965 (amended in 1977). Most important task of the board, among
few others, is to conduct the SSC for 10th class and HSC for 12th class
examinations.[1] It is the most popular education board in terms of enrollment in
high school in India only after the Central Board of Secondary Education.
It was started as a project with in-built flexibilities by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 1979. In 1986, the National Policy on Education suggested strengthening of Open School System for extending open learning facilities in a phased manner at secondary level all over the country as an independent system with its own curriculum and examination leading to certification.
NIOS is providing a number of Vocational, Life Enrichment and community oriented courses besides General and Academic Courses at Secondary and Senior Secondary level. It also offers Elementary level Courses through its Open Basic Education Programmes (OBE).Government of India through a gazette notification
vested NIOS with the authority to examine and certify learners registered with it
upto pre degree level courses whether Academic, Technical or Vocational.