Udaipur, February 26, 2025 - The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a major change in the Class 10th Board examination system. Starting from 2026, students will have the option to appear for the Board exams twice a year. The first session will be held in February 2026, while the second session will take place in May 2026. CBSE’s decision to conduct Board exams twice a year aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Students will have the flexibility to appear in both sessions or choose only one as per their preference.

Practical exams and internal assessments will be conducted only once per academic year. No separate mark sheets will be issued after the first session. The final marksheet and passing certificate will be issued only after the May examination. It will include the best of the two scores for each subject if the student appeared in both sessions.

No Separate Supplementary Exams

With the introduction of this system, CBSE will not conduct separate supplementary exams. The May session will serve as an improvement exam for those who want to enhance their scores. There will be no provision for special exams under any circumstances. CBSE has decided to increase examination fees, which will be collected at the time of application for both attempts. The fee details will be announced soon.

Flexibility in Subject Selection

Students can skip subjects in the second session if satisfied with their first attempt scores. However, once the List of Candidates (LOC) is finalized, subjects cannot be changed. They can take a skipped subject in the second session.

Exam Dates and Centers

According to sources, the first exam session will be conducted from February 17 to March 6, 2026, while the second phase will be held from May 5 to May 20, 2026. The exam centers allotted to students will remain the same for both sessions.

The New Exam Framework Divides Subjects Into Seven Groups

1. Language 1

2. Language 2

3. Elective 1

4. Elective 2

5. Elective 3

6. Regional and Foreign Languages

7. Remaining Subjects

The draft guidelines for this new system are now open for public feedback. Stakeholders can submit their suggestions until March 9, 2025. CBSE will finalize the decision after considering all responses.

Source: Media Reports