CBSE approves twice-a-year board exams for Class 10 from 2026

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved norms to conduct Class-10 board exams twice a year from 2026, Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said on Wednesday (June 25, 2025).

The CBSE announced the draft norms in February, which were put in the public domain for stakeholders’ feedback.

The new NEP recommended that to eliminate the “high-stakes” aspect of the board exams, all students will be allowed to take the exams on up to two occasions during any given school year.

Second exam optional

While detailing the norms part of the twice-a-year board exam, the Board said that the main examination, compulsory for all students, will be conducted mid-February, with results being announced in April. An improvement exam or second exam will be held in May, for students to better their scores starting academic year 2026-27, and the results will follow in June.

The second exam is an optional additional opportunity and can be taken in any three subjects out of Science, Maths, Social Science and two languages, CBSE said.

With regards to the internal assessment, the Board said it will be conducted only once.

According to the approved norms, Class-10 students from winter-bound schools will get option to appear for the board exams in any of the phases.

(With inputs from PTI)