The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the 2026 board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will commence on February 17, 2026. The first phase of the examinations is scheduled to run until March 6, while the second phase is expected to take place in May.
One significant change this year is the introduction of a two-exam system for Class 10 students. This new format allows students to take two board exams within a single academic year. The aim is to provide opportunities for those who may fail, miss, or wish to improve their scores from the first exam, thus preventing them from losing an academic year.
For Class 12 students, the schedule for subject-specific examinations has been released. The Physics exam will occur on February 20, followed by Accountancy on February 24, Chemistry on February 28, Psychology on March 5, Mathematics on March 9, English on March 12, and Biology on March 27. The Class 12 examinations will conclude on April 9, 2026.
The board has also updated the examination format for both Classes 10 and 12 to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The revised question papers will feature a balanced combination of competency-based, objective, and descriptive questions, emphasizing conceptual understanding and practical application instead of rote memorization. This shift aims to better assess students” analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Students now have the option to participate in two examinations within the same academic year. Those unable to attend the first exam due to medical reasons or sports commitments will be afforded another opportunity in the second exam. Similarly, students wishing to enhance their scores can reappear under the “Essential Repeat” or Compartment category.
The results from the first examination will be announced in April 2026, allowing students to use their scores for provisional admission to Class 11 through DigiLocker. However, final merit certificates and passing documents will only be issued following the release of the second exam results in June 2026.
According to estimates, over 4.5 million students are anticipated to participate in the 2026 board examinations, which represents an increase of approximately 300,000 students compared to the previous year. The board has emphasized that students must maintain a minimum attendance of 75 percent to be eligible for the exams.
