CBSE class 10 Board exams to be held twice a year from 2026

New Delhi: In a landmark reform aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the introduction of a biannual Board examination system for Class 10, beginning with the academic year 2026. This new approach will offer students the flexibility to improve their scores in up to three subjects, significantly changing the high-pressure nature of traditional Board exams.

According to an official circular issued by CBSE Controller of Examinations, Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, all students will be required to appear for the first Board examination, which is scheduled to begin in mid-February. Those seeking to enhance their scores in specific subjects may opt to take the second Board examination, which will be conducted in May. Results for the first and second sessions will be declared in April and June, respectively.

The reform is aimed at reducing academic stress and offering students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities. Under the new system, students who pass the first exam will be allowed to reappear in up to three subjects to improve their performance. Additionally, students falling under the compartment or essential repeat categories will also be eligible to take the second session.

Internal assessments will remain a single-session process, conducted before the first Board exam. The policy also seeks to curb the dependency on coaching centres by encouraging continuous learning and more flexible preparation schedules.

Special provisions have been made for sports students, winter-bound schools, and children with special needs, allowing exam schedules to be adjusted according to their specific circumstances. In the case of winter-bound schools, students will have the option to choose which phase — the first or the second — they wish to appear in.

The CBSE had earlier released a draft of this two-exam proposal in February and invited feedback from stakeholders through a public consultation process.

While this system has been officially confirmed only for Class 10 students as of now, the CBSE has hinted at the possibility of extending a similar model to Class 12 in the future, although no formal decision has been announced.

This major shift in India’s school education framework represents a move toward a more student-centric, inclusive, and flexible evaluation model — a significant step in realising the vision of NEP 2020.

With IANS inputs