A Composite Skill Lab (CSL, often just called a "composite lab") is a room where students learn skill subjects by doing, and every CBSE school must have one. It must be at least 600 sq ft, or two rooms of 400 sq ft each. It serves students from Class 6 to Class 12.
- Schools seeking new affiliation need it before they apply.
- Schools already affiliated must have it by 22 August 2027.
CBSE suggests teaching at least three skill subjects: one involving living things (like gardening), one involving machines and materials (like electronics), and one involving work with people (like healthcare). CBSE calls these the three "forms of work". It estimates the cost at about ₹3–6 lakh including furniture, and calls its equipment lists "suggestive", not fixed.
This guide explains the whole requirement from CBSE's own documents:
- two circulars (Skill-75/2024 and Skill-13/2026)
- CBSE's 71-page Guidelines for setting up Composite Skill Lab in Schools
Page numbers are given so you can check every point. Edtech companies and education partners will find a section for them near the end.
Where's the official PDF? Skill-13/2026 links the guidelines booklet at cbseacademic.nic.in, but that link was returning "not found" when we last checked (15 October 2026). We read a publicly shared copy that matches both circulars. Page references below are to that booklet. Download our one-page compliance checklist (PDF)
Quick answer
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is it mandatory? | Yes, for every CBSE-affiliated school | Skill-75/2024 |
| Deadline (existing schools) | 22 August 2027 | Skill-13/2026 |
| Deadline (new affiliation) | Before you apply | Skill-75/2024 |
| Room size | Min. 600 sq ft for Classes 6–12, or two rooms of min. 400 sq ft (6–10 and 11–12) | Skill-75/2024; Guidelines p.10 |
| Batch size the room should hold | 25–40 students working safely | Guidelines p.10 |
| How many skill subjects? | At least 3, covering all 3 forms of work (recommended) | Guidelines p.10 |
| Must we buy every listed tool? | No. Lists are "suggestive" | Skill-13/2026 |
| Estimated cost | About ₹3–6 lakh, depending on subjects, room size and furniture | Guidelines p.9 |
| Is furniture part of it? | Yes: work tables, stools, lockable cupboards, pegboards, safety rack | Guidelines pp.20–27 |
| Can our ATL or computer lab count? | They can be used to teach some subjects, but can't replace the CSL | Guidelines p.41 |
| Is AI required? | No, but CBSE encourages it | Guidelines p.40 |
What is a Composite Skill Lab?
It's one shared, flexible room where students learn skill subjects by doing: growing plants, cooking, wiring circuits, checking blood pressure, running a mock shop. "Composite" means one room serves several skill areas, with toolkits swapped in and out as subjects change (Guidelines p.11).
It exists because NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF-SE 2023) make skill education a regular part of school from Class 6. NCF-SE organises it into three forms of work (Guidelines p.3):
| Form of work | Example skill subjects |
|---|---|
| Work with life forms | Agriculture & gardening, food production |
| Work with machines & materials | Electronics/mechatronics, IT (computers and IT services), apparel, carpentry, automotive, media |
| Work in human services | Healthcare, retail, beauty & wellness, finance, tourism |
Is it mandatory, and by when?
Yes. CBSE's Governing Body mandated it at its 139th meeting, and CBSE announced it in Circular Skill-75/2024 (23 August 2024):
- New schools: a Composite Skill Lab "with all necessary equipments and machinery" is mandatory for fresh affiliation.
- Existing schools: three years from that circular, which Skill-13/2026 states as 22 August 2027.
Plan backwards from that date. Choosing subjects, preparing the room (civil and electrical work, furniture), buying equipment and training teachers can easily take a term. The lab should also be in regular use before the deadline, not just furnished. Aim to have the room ready and equipment ordered by early 2027.
Besides the lab, what else does CBSE require?
Building the lab isn't enough on its own. CBSE's guidelines list five things every school needs for skill education in Classes 6–10, and the lab is just one of them (Guidelines p.9):
| Component | What CBSE expects |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Provided by CBSE, aligned with NCERT textbooks (Kaushal Bodh for Classes 6–8) |
| Teachers | Identified or hired specifically for skill education, and trained |
| Timetable | 110 hours a year of skill education for Classes 6–10 |
| Composite Skill Lab | The room, furniture, tools and safety set-up |
| Industry exposure | Visits, guest experts and internships, organised by a skill coordinator |
What students do in the lab, according to NCF-SE (Guidelines pp.5–7):
- Classes 6–8: three projects a year, one per form of work (nine by the end of Class 8), plus a Kaushal Mela (skills fair) at the end of the year.
- Classes 9–10: six vocations over two years, two per form of work.
- Classes 11–12: specialisation in one vocation.
Which skill subjects should we choose?
CBSE recommends that the lab supports at least three skill subjects that together cover all three forms of work (Guidelines p.10). CBSE already offers plenty to choose from (Circular Skill-01/2025):
- Skill modules for Classes 6–12 (since 2020)
- 22 skill subjects in Classes 9–10, and 43 in Classes 11–12
- No permission or fee is needed to introduce them. Just record them in your school's OASIS form.
- CBSE is appointing District Skill Coordinators to support schools.
Choose them based on:
- your school's location and students' aspirations
- what you can actually teach: tools, materials, teachers
- local businesses for visits and guest experts
The guidelines include tool lists for 11 sectors, plus two that need no special tools (Guidelines pp.28–32, 42):
| Life forms | Machines & materials | Human services |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & Gardening | Electronics / Mechatronics | Healthcare |
| Food Production | IT / ITeS (IT and IT-enabled services) | Retail |
| Apparel | Beauty & Wellness | |
| Automotive | Banking, finance & insurance (BFSI; computers only) | |
| Carpentry / Woodwork | Tourism & Hospitality (no tools) | |
| Animation, VFX, gaming & comics (AVGC) and media content |
For Classes 6–8, the guidelines also list projects from Kaushal Bodh (NCERT's skill textbooks for these classes) that the lab should support. Examples:
- Life forms: kitchen garden, plant nursery, hydroponics
- Machines & materials: maker skills, home automation, an AI assistant, tie & dye, wood and bamboo
- Human services: cooking without fire, a family health handbook, a water audit
What does the room need?
| Area | CBSE guideline (pp.10, 19–20) |
|---|---|
| Size | Min. 600 sq ft, or 2 × 400 sq ft. Room for 25–40 students |
| Ventilation | Windows and exhaust fans |
| Walls | At least two clear walls for pegboards and posters. Light colours, with tiles or darker paint on the lower 3 ft |
| Electrical | Proper wiring, lights, fans. 15 A and 5 A sockets, preferably on all walls |
| Flooring | Concrete or rubber mats. Avoid vitrified tiles or stone |
| Water | Sink with tap and drainage if your subjects need water (otherwise optional) |
| Location | Preferably near an open area for gardening |
| Layout | Modular, so subjects can change. CBSE gives model layouts for 400 and 600 sq ft |
What furniture and safety items are expected?
The guidelines give suggested specifications for a 30 × 20 ft (600 sq ft) lab (Guidelines pp.20–27, 35):
Furniture and fittings
- Group work tables: steel frame, 6–8 ft × 4 ft, 30 in high, 18 mm ply top
- Stackable stools
- Lockable steel wall cupboards for each subject's toolkit, plus labelled stackable containers
- Tool pegboards (4 × 3 ft) and low wall shelves for student work
- Teacher's table, chair and cupboard
- Whiteboard, and an LED screen or projector
Safety (for a class of 40)
- Fire safety: 1 fire extinguisher (2 kg ABC) and 2 sand buckets
- First aid: 1 first-aid box
- Protective gear: 15 pairs of gloves, 15 aprons, 8 rubber mats
- A safety corner by the entrance
- Building and routines: two wide exit doors, safety posters, regular fire and evacuation drills
- Named safety roles for the principal, teachers, lab in-charge, students and cleaning staff (pp.33–34)
These specifications are suggested and can be adjusted to your room, but plan and budget for them. Many equipment quotes don't include furniture.
What equipment do we need?
That depends on the subjects you choose. CBSE's tool lists (Annexure 1, pp.42–63) are sized for a class of 40 students. The 2026 circular says they're "suggestive and may be adopted based on school's readiness and requirements."
Equip the lab properly for your chosen subjects. You don't need all 11 sectors.
How much does a Composite Skill Lab cost?
CBSE puts it at about ₹3–6 lakh, "depending on the skill subjects chosen, size of lab and type of furniture" (Guidelines p.9). It adds that the figure is only suggestive: more students, branded tools or specialised furniture cost more.
Budget for:
- Equipment and consumables for your chosen subjects
- Furniture and storage
- Civil, electrical and safety work
- Teacher training
- AI computers, if you choose to add them
Can our ATL, computer lab or home science lab count?
Existing spaces can host some subjects, but CBSE is clear that "the requirement for the CSL remains" (Guidelines p.41):
| Existing space | Use it for skill subjects? | Convert it into the CSL? |
|---|---|---|
| Atal Tinkering Lab / Agile ATL | Yes, for one of the three forms of work (e.g. electronics/mechatronics) | No. It's government-funded for a specific purpose |
| IT / computer lab | Yes, for coding, AI, finance, design, animation | No |
| Home science lab | Yes, for food production and baking | No |
| Makerspace | Yes | Possibly, if it meets the specifications |
| Garden / green space | Yes, for agriculture | No. Tools must still be kept in the CSL |
| Existing single-sector skill lab | Yes, for that subject | No, if set up with government or special CBSE funds |
For IT/ITeS, an existing computer lab with at least 20 working computers can be used (Guidelines p.57).
Is AI part of the requirement?
CBSE urges schools to add AI infrastructure to the lab (Guidelines p.40). It suggests 3–5 high-specification desktops or laptops for AI work (p.63). It's encouraged, not mandatory.
Schools can also use ATL and mechatronics tools to bring technology into problem-solving. The Kaushal Bodh projects already include an AI assistant and home automation.
What should a school do now? A checklist
- Appoint a skill coordinator to own the project.
- Choose at least 3 skill subjects across the 3 forms of work, based on your area, teachers and local businesses.
- Identify the room (600 or 2 × 400 sq ft), and list the civil and electrical work: sockets, flooring, ventilation, sink.
- List what you already have: ATL, computer lab, garden, home science lab. Decide what each can host.
- Plan the furniture and the safety corner to CBSE's suggested specifications.
- Buy equipment for your chosen subjects only, using CBSE's lists as a guide.
- Identify and train teachers. Plan 110 hours a year in the timetable for Classes 6–10.
- Set up records: an inventory register, a safety drill log and a lab usage timetable.
- Plan the first Kaushal Mela to show the lab in use.
Download the one-page compliance checklist (PDF)
For edtech companies and education partners
The mandate creates demand from every CBSE school at once, with a fixed deadline. Here's what schools will need, and where the gaps are:
- Not just equipment. Schools need the whole package: subject-wise toolkits, curriculum for 110 hours a year, teacher training, furniture, safety fit-out, and help with the Kaushal Mela and records. Few suppliers cover all of it.
- Subject choice is local. A school in a farming district and a city school will choose differently. Partners who can advise on subject choice add real value.
- Many schools only need to fill gaps. Their ATL or computer lab can already cover some subjects, so they need help with the rest, not a whole new lab.
- Teaching is the hard part. CBSE expects trained skill teachers. Training and ongoing support are where most schools will struggle after the equipment arrives.
Working with Cretile:
- Supply: sector toolkits (built from CBSE's suggested lists), a 3-level curriculum per sector, and teacher training.
- Whitelabel: we offer whitelabelling (minimum order applies).
How Cretile helps schools
For six of CBSE's sectors, Cretile supplies subject toolkits, consumables, a 3-level curriculum and teacher training:
- Life forms: Agriculture, Food Production
- Machines & materials: Electronics & Mechatronics, IT/ITeS
- Human services: Healthcare, Retail
That covers all three forms of work. Our toolkits are built from CBSE's suggested tool lists. IT/ITeS runs in your existing computer lab, so it needs no new hardware.
What we don't supply (yet):
- furniture, storage cupboards and pegboards
- computers, including AI workstations
- civil, electrical and safety fit-out
- sectors outside these six: apparel, automotive, carpentry, media, beauty & wellness
Plan these separately.
Since 2016, Cretile has worked with 5,000+ schools and Atal Tinkering Labs. We're a National Startup Award winner, funded by MeitY.
Planning your Composite Skill Lab? Tell us your classes, your room and the subjects you're considering. We'll connect you with the Cretile partner nearest you for a sector-by-sector plan. → Request a lab plan
FAQ
What is a composite skill lab (composite lab) in CBSE schools? A single, flexible room where students from Class 6 to Class 12 learn skill subjects hands-on, across three forms of work: life forms (e.g. agriculture), machines & materials (e.g. electronics) and human services (e.g. healthcare). CBSE requires every affiliated school to have one.
Is the Composite Skill Lab mandatory for all CBSE schools? Yes. It's mandatory for fresh affiliation, and existing schools must set one up by 22 August 2027 (Circulars Skill-75/2024 and Skill-13/2026).
What is the minimum size of a Composite Skill Lab? One room of at least 600 sq ft for Classes 6–12, or two rooms of at least 400 sq ft each: one for Classes 6–10 and one for 11–12.
How many skill subjects must the lab support? CBSE recommends at least three, covering all three forms of work: life forms, machines and materials, and human services.
How much does a Composite Skill Lab cost? CBSE estimates about ₹3–6 lakh, depending on the subjects, room size and furniture. The figure is suggestive.
Is furniture part of the requirement? Yes. The guidelines specify work tables, stools, lockable cupboards, pegboards, a teacher's table and a safety rack, with suggested sizes.
Can an Atal Tinkering Lab be converted into a Composite Skill Lab? No. An ATL can be used to teach one form of work, such as electronics, but it can't be converted, because it's government-funded for a specific purpose.
How many hours of skill education are required? 110 hours a year for Classes 6–10, as set out in NCF-SE 2023 and CBSE's guidelines.
Where can I find the CBSE Composite Skill Lab guidelines PDF? CBSE's circular links it at cbseacademic.nic.in, but the link wasn't working when we last checked (15 October 2026). The circulars are available: Skill-75/2024 and Skill-13/2026. This guide summarises the booklet with page references.