The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued the tentative date sheet for the 2026 Class 10 and 12 board examinations, scheduled to be held between 17 February and 15 July 2026. Morning sessions will run from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, with a shorter slot until 12:30 pm for skill-based subjects such as painting and automotive.

A major reform this year is the introduction of a two-exam system for Class 10, designed to ease student stress and prevent the loss of an academic year in cases of absence or failure. Candidates can appear in the second exam under the “Essential Repeat” or “Compartment” category, while those wishing to improve their scores may also re-sit papers in the second session. The second Class 10 exam will take place from 15–30 May 2026, followed by compartment exams on 1 June.

Other key changes include:

• Mandatory internal assessments – students missing these will not be eligible for result declaration.
• Attendance requirement – at least 75% attendance is necessary to sit the board exams.
• Full programme completion – Class 9 and 10 must be completed to appear for Class 10 boards, and Class 11 for Class 12 boards.
• Special provision for athletes – sports students unable to take the first exam may appear in the second session.
• Faster evaluation – answer scripts will be assessed within 10–12 days of each paper.
• Digital results – outcomes from the first board exam will be uploaded on DigiLocker, which may also be used by Class 10 students for admission to Class 11.

Over 45 lakh students are expected to sit the 2026 CBSE exams, an increase of around three lakh from last year. Admit cards are likely to be issued about a fortnight before the start of the examinations, in line with past practice.

Inputs from India Today

Also Read: CBSE launches 14 new teacher training programmes under NEP 2020