CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Changes; What's new in CBSE Board Exam Twice Proposal Draft
The Board has proposed a draft to conduct CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice a year. Below is a summary of the proposed changes that will impact students appearing for the 2026 Class 10 Board Exams.
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice: Know the Proposed Changes
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Changes: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a draft proposal which includes significant CBSE Academic Changes for the upcoming CBSE 10th Board exams 2026. One of the most notable changes is the introduction of the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams Twice-A-Year Examination System. Below is a summary of the proposed CBSE Academic Changes 2026 that will impact students appearing for the 2026 Class 10 Board Exams.
Also Read: CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice A Year: Tentative Class 10 Date Sheet for Phase 1 & 2 Exams
CBSE Class 10 Board Exams Twice: Key Highlights of Proposed Scheme
2026 Board Exam Date Class 10 and Structure: CBSE Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year – The CBSE Class 10 Board Exam 2026 first phase will be conducted from February 17 to March 6, 2026, and the CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 second phase will be conducted from May 5 to May 20, 2026. The CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2026 will be conducted in two shifts, and approximately 26.60 lakh students are expected to appear for the Class 10 exams.
Syllabus and Subjects: Both exams will be conducted based on the full current CBSE 10th syllabus and prescribed textbooks.
Core subjects like Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi, and English will be held on fixed days, similar to the current exam system.
Other subjects such as regional languages, foreign languages, and vocational subjects, will be grouped differently.
- Regional and Foreign languages will be tested on a single day.
- Remaining subjects (e.g., Data Science, Computer Applications) will be conducted on 2 or 3 days, with subject-specific dates decided by CBSE based on student preferences.
Subject Groupings
- Subjects will be divided into specific groups for examination purposes:
- Group 1: Core subjects – English, Maths, Science, Social Science.
- Group 2: Regional languages, Foreign languages, and elective subjects.
- Group 3: Vocational and skill-based subjects like Data Science, IT, Marketing, and more.
Examination Procedure
- The answer sheets of all subjects will be evaluated at the end of both the first and second phases.
- The question papers of vocational and elective subjects will be taken back after the exam for security purposes.
Compulsory LOC Submission
- The List of Candidates (LOC) for the first examination will be completed by September of the previous year. Students will not be able to change subjects after submitting the LOC for the first exam.
No Special Examinations
- There will be no special examinations conducted under any circumstances. Any student who misses the first exam can appear for the second examination.
- The second exam will serve as a supplementary examination for those who fail in the first attempt.
Results and Merit Certificates
- Students will receive a passing certificate after the second examination result, which will include the better of the two marks secured across both attempts.
- Merit certificates will be issued after the second examination, with results for both the first and second phases available through DigiLocker.
Examination Fees
- The examination fee will be enhanced and collected for both examinations when filling out the LOC, which will be non-refundable once paid.
Internal Assessments
- Internal assessments and practical exams will be conducted once and will remain valid for both the first and second phases of the examination.
Changes in Subject Selections
- After the LOC submission, students will not be allowed to change subjects. Subject changes will only be allowed for the second examination, but not for the first.
Improvement Category
- Students who fail in 1 to 5 subjects in the first examination will be placed under the Improvement Category and allowed to reappear in the second examination.
- The second examination will be conducted in July 2026, with results declared soon after.
No Additional Subjects
- Students will not be allowed to add additional subjects after passing the CBSE Class 10 exam. Students can only appear in the first or second examination to improve grades for existing subjects.
Examination Centers
- Students will be assigned fixed examination centers for both phases. The examination center for the first phase will also be applicable for the second phase.
- Only national gazetted holidays will be considered for holidays, and exams will be scheduled accordingly.
Changes Regarding Special Categories
- CWSN Candidates (Children with Special Needs) will continue to receive the same accommodations as before.
- Sports Students will appear in the standard examinations with no separate provisions for them.
Practical Implementation of the Changes
- Schools will be assessed for their ability to become examination centers.
- The examination bye-laws will be revised, and any feedback received after the first implementation will be used to revise and finalize the changes.
This CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 twice-a-year exam proposal by the Board aims to reduce exam pressure, give students more flexibility, and allow them to attempt the exams when they feel more prepared. While this is a significant shift in the examination system, students will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the subjects they choose, with a better chance to improve their results.
The proposed changes are yet to be finalized, and CBSE plans to review the feedback before making the system official. The Board has asked the stakeholders, teachers, students, parents, etc. to share their feedback by March 9. A final draft for CBSE 10th Board Exam 2025 Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams will be released based on the feedbacks received.
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 TWICE Proposal Draft
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