CBSE to Conduct Class 10 Exams Twice a Year from 2026
New Delhi, 25 February – (www.deccanlive.com): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved a draft regulation to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2026.
As per the draft rules:
- First exam phase: February 17 to March 6
- Second exam phase: May 5 to May 20
Students will have to pay the exam fee for both attempts together at the time of registration.
The Ministry of Education discussed this decision with CBSE board officials, NCERT, KVS, NVS, and school authorities on February 19. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan led the discussions before finalizing this policy.
Stakeholders can submit their feedback on the draft policy by March 9, after which it will be finalized.
CBSE Board Exams Twice a Year: Optional for Students
Starting from 2026-27, CBSE Class 10 and 12 students will have the option to appear for board exams twice a year, just like the JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) system.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had announced this plan in August 2024, stating that students will be allowed to take the board exam twice a year, and their best score will be considered as the final result.
Three Options for Students:
- Appear for the exam once a year (as per the current system).
- Take both exams and use the best score.
- Reappear only for specific subjects if they want to improve their performance.
This change aims to reduce exam stress and provide better opportunities for students.
