MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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New Delhi: In a significant move to reduce exam stress and provide students with better performance opportunities, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved a draft policy to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year from 2026.
The draft norms have been released for public feedback and will be open for suggestions from students, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders until March 9, 2025.
Key Decisions & Implementation Plan
CBSE Class 10 board exams will be held twice a year from 2026.
Both exams will cover the full syllabus.
The first and second sessions will act as supplementary exams; no additional special exams will be conducted.
Exam fees will be charged for both sessions at the time of application filing.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and CBSE officials recently held a high-level meeting to discuss the CBSE Global Curriculum Framework and finalize the implementation of this twice-a-year board exam system.
CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026: Dates & Result Schedule
First Exam Session: February 17 – March 6, 2026
Second Exam Session: May 5 – May 20, 2026
CBSE Class 10 Results 2026:
Phase 1 Results: By April 20, 2026
Phase 2 Results: By August 15, 2026
CBSE Class 12 Results 2026: By May 20, 2026
Key Highlights of the New Exam Format
Same Examination Centres for Both Phases – Students will be allotted the same center for both exams.
26.6 Lakh Students Registered for CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026.
Core Subjects (Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi & English) will be scheduled on fixed dates as done currently.
Regional & Foreign Language Exams will be conducted in a single session.
Non-Refundable Exam Fee – The fee will be collected at the time of first application and will cover both sessions.
DigiLocker Access – Performance of the first phase will be available in DigiLocker, but no separate passing certificate will be issued.
Merit Certificate After Second Exam – A merit certificate will be awarded only after the second phase of exams.
Why This Change?
This decision is based on recommendations from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which suggested that students should get multiple opportunities to improve their scores.
The new system will:
Help students improve their performance without waiting a full year.
Reduce stress by providing an additional attempt.
Ensure fair evaluation, as the best score from both exams will be considered.
How to Submit Feedback?
The CBSE draft policy is available on the official website (cbse.gov.in), and stakeholders can submit their suggestions by March 9, 2025.
Once feedback is reviewed, CBSE will finalize the policy for implementation from the 2026 academic session.
