The move aims to reduce exam-related stress among students, offer them flexibility, and provide a chance to improve their performance...

CBSE Approval of  Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year from 2026 latest news: In a major relief for students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the implementation of twice-a-year Class 10 board exams starting from the academic year 2026.

As per the announcement by CBSE Controller of Examinations Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, students will be allowed to appear for the Class 10 board exams twice in a single academic year. The first phase will be mandatory, while the second phase will be optional. The best score out of the two attempts will be retained.

This decision has been taken in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and after consultations with stakeholders.

According to Para 4.37 of NEP 2020, “To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year — one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.”

The move aims to reduce exam-related stress among students, offer them flexibility, and provide a chance to improve their performance within the same academic year.

The scheme of two board examinations, as shared by CBSE, is as follows:

(i) General Conditions

1. It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first Board examination.
2. All passed and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages.
3. If a student has not appeared in 3 or more subjects in first Board examination, then s/he will not be allowed to appear in the 2nd examination. Such students will be placed in the “Essential Repeat” category and can take the examination only next year in the main examinations in the month of February next year.
4. For students whose result in the first examination is Compartment, such students will be allowed to appear in second examination under Compartment Category.
5. Additional Subjects will not be permitted after passing class X, students will not be allowed in stand-alone subjects.

(ii). Scheme for Special Category

1. Sports students will be allowed to appear in 2ⁿᵈ examinations in the subjects whose examinations have coincides with their sports event.
2. Winter Bound Schools’ students may choose to appear either in first examinations or second examinations in offered subjects.
3. The facilities extended to CWSN candidates will be extended in 2ⁿᵈ examinations also.

(iii). Conduct of Internal Assessment

1. Internal assessment will be conducted only once before the main examinations.

(iv). Schedule of the Examinations

1. Main or 1ˢᵗ examinations will begin from Mid-February as conducted now.
2. Second examination will be conducted in the month of May.

(v). Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in the Examinations

1. First examination will be the main examination. The eligibility to appear in the first examination will be:
   (a) Fresh students of Class X
   (b) Second Chance Compartment
   (c) Essential Repeat of previous year
   (d) Improvement examination
2. The eligibility to appear in the second examination will be:
   (i) Improvement category up to 3 main subjects
   (ii) First/Third Chance Compartment
   (iii) Compartment + Improvement
   (iv) Improvement for the students passed by the replacement

(vi). Syllabus and Scheme of Examinations

1. Both the examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for the year.
2. The scheme of studies and scheme of examinations will remain the same.

(vii). LOC Submission for the examinations

1. Filling of LOC and appearing in the Main/first examination will be compulsory.
2. LOC for the 2ⁿᵈ examinations will be filled in separately. However, no new names will be added to the LOC of the 2ⁿᵈ examination.
3. Subject change will not be allowed from first examination to second examinations except permitted as per policy.

(viii). Result Declaration

1. Result of all the students will be declared as per Examination Bye-Laws.
2. Result of First examinations will be declared in the month of April.
3. Result of Second examinations will be declared in the month of June.
4. Performance of main examination will be made available in DigiLocker. This could be used for admission to class XI if the student does not wish to appear in 2ⁿᵈ examinations for improvement. Passing document will be issued to all the students after the results of Second examinations.
5. Merit certificate will also be issued only after second examination.

(ix). Post Result Facilities

1. Facilities of Photocopy, verification and re-evaluation will be available only after declaration of results of 2ⁿᵈ examination for both the examinations i.e. Main and 2ⁿᵈ examinations.

(x). Admission in Class XI

1. Students not qualified in the main examination will be allowed provisional admission in Class XI and based on the result of the 2ⁿᵈ examination, their admission will be confirmed.

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