CBSE Date Sheet 2026 Evolution: Here's How CBSE Time Table Release Trends Has Changed

CBSE Class 10, 12 board exam calendar has shifted from Pre-Covid schedule to tentative multi-window formats, here’s how 2019–2026 shaped policy.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released tentative date sheet for Classes 10 and 12 board examinations for 2026, reflecting a larger shift in the way India’s biggest school board manages its exam calendar. What was once a predictable annual timetable has, over the past five years, turned into a flexible, sometimes prolonged schedule, shaped by Covid-19 disruptions and ongoing policy changes under National Education Policy.

Pre-Covid consistency

Till 2019, CBSE’s exam calendar used to be steady. Class 10 and 12 board exams typically began in mid-February or early March and ended by early April. Exam dates were announced in December or January, giving students and schools sufficient preparation time. Core subjects such as English, Science, and Math were spaced out, with sufficient gaps.

Pandemic disruptions

The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 brought this predictability to a halt, with exams of some subjects done, later called off. Class 10 exams in 2021 were cancelled completely, while Class 12 exams were postponed and then scrapped after weeks of uncertainty.

CBSE came up with a two-term exam format in the year 2022, splitting board syllabus into Term 1 and Term 2. Term 2 was conducted between April and June. However this was a temporary experiment to ensure flexibility in uncertain conditions.

Return to single Board Exam, with changes

In the post Covid era, 2023 and 2024, CBSE reverted to a single annual board exam cycle. However, exams started earlier, from mid-February, and stretched into April. The date sheets also came with fewer gaps between subjects, generating concerns among students and parents about stress and preparation time.

CBSE 2026 Board Exam Tentative schedules and road ahead

For 2026, CBSE has first time released a tentative date sheet, with exams listed across multiple phases from February to July. This approach reflects the upcoming shift towards biannual Class 10 boards under NEP reforms.

Officials argue that multiple opportunities will reduce high stakes pressure, but teachers and principals worry about logistics and evaluation timelines.

Comparative calendar

Year	Class 10 (start–end)	Class 12 (start–end)	Note
2019	Feb 21 – Mar 29	Feb 15 – Apr 3	Predictable, firm schedule
2021	Cancelled	Cancelled	Results via alternate assessment
2022	Apr 26 – May 24 (Term 2)	Apr 26 – Jun 15 (Term 2)	Two-term model
2024	Mid February- March end	Mid February- Early April	Single window, tighter gaps
2025	Feb 15 – March 18	Feb 15 – Apr 4	Single window, tighter gaps
2026	Feb – June (phased)- (tentative)	Feb – April (tentative)	Tentative, multi-window approach

Principals and teachers react

CBSE school heads are of the view that shift is understandable but needs careful planning. “From a policy angle, flexibility makes sense, but on the ground it means rescheduling staff duties and reworking academic calendars almost every year,” said Maitreyi Borthakur, Principal of a CBSE school in Ghaziabad.

“Biannual windows may give students more chances, but they also double the workload for schools and create challenges in secure handling of answer scripts,” noted Daya Varughese, Principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Kerala.

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