The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) is a report card that records a child's progress across learning, skills and personal growth, not only marks. It comes from India's National Education Policy 2020, which asks for a "holistic, 360-degree, multidimensional report" that includes the child's self-assessment, peer assessment and the teacher's assessment (NEP 2020, paragraph 4.35). PARAKH, the national assessment centre set up within NCERT, develops the HPC formats.
Why the HPC replaces the marks-only report card
A marks total tells a parent how a child did on test days. It says little about curiosity, teamwork, creativity or how the child is changing over the year. The HPC records competencies and observations across the term, so parents and the next year's teacher get a fuller picture of the child.
The four stages
NEP 2020 organises school education into four stages (the 5+3+3+4 structure), and PARAKH has published HPC formats stage by stage:
| Stage | Classes | Focus of the card |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational | Pre-school to Class 2 | Play- and activity-based observation; simple self-assessment with pictures |
| Preparatory | Classes 3 to 5 | Competencies across subjects, with more self- and peer-assessment |
| Middle | Classes 6 to 8 | Subject competencies, projects and reflection on learning |
| Secondary | Classes 9 to 12 | Subject learning plus goals, interests and next steps |
What goes into an HPC
- Competency-based assessment: how far the child has reached on each competency, usually on a level scale rather than marks alone.
- Activities and projects: what the child did and what it showed.
- Teacher observations: short, dated notes taken through the term.
- Self-assessment: the child's own view of what they learned and found hard.
- Peer assessment: feedback from classmates, especially in the higher stages.
- Parent input: what the family sees at home.
Is the HPC compulsory?
NEP 2020 recommends it, and boards are adopting it in stages. Whether and when it applies to your classes depends on your board's own circulars, so check the latest notice from CBSE, CISCE or your state board before you plan the year.
How to run HPC without drowning teachers in paperwork
- Pick your stage formats at the start of the year. Agree which classes use which stage card and which parts (self, peer, parent) you will collect.
- Record observations as they happen. A two-line note on a phone during the activity beats a page written from memory at the end of term.
- Use rubrics. A shared rubric for each competency keeps different teachers' levels consistent.
- Collect self and peer input in class time. Short, guided activities work better than forms sent home.
- Review before you print. The class teacher checks each card for gaps before it goes to parents.
How Eduzon supports the HPC
Eduzon includes HPC frameworks for all four PARAKH stages (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary). Schools set up activities and rubrics, teachers record observations, and the card is generated for each student. The same system holds attendance, marks and the student profile, so the card draws on records the school already keeps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Holistic Progress Card?
The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) is a report card recommended by NEP 2020 that records a child's progress across learning, skills and personal growth, with self-assessment, peer assessment and teacher assessment, instead of marks alone.
Who designs the HPC format?
PARAKH, the national assessment centre set up within NCERT, develops the HPC formats. Boards and states adopt or adapt them for their schools.
Which classes use which HPC?
There are four stage formats: Foundational (pre-school to Class 2), Preparatory (Classes 3 to 5), Middle (Classes 6 to 8) and Secondary (Classes 9 to 12).
Sources
- National Education Policy 2020, Ministry of Education (paragraph 4.35)
- About PARAKH, NCERT
