What is the story about?
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced several changes for the class 10, 12 board examinations in 2026. The changes include the introduction
of two exams, early release of date sheets, and many more. Have a look at the key changes introduced by the board this year.
Two‑session exam system for Class 10
This is the biggest change introduced by CBSE this year. CBSE will conduct the dual‑session board exam format for Class 10 students. The first exam will be conducted in February‑March, and the second session will be conducted in May. This system replaces the earlier “supplementary” model. Rather, it offers students a full second attempt within the same year with the same full syllabus and exam weightage.
The first phase will be held in February (mandatory for all students), and the second in May (optional for improvement). The best score will appear on the marksheet. Results will be announced in April and June, respectively. This change is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP). Students will be able to enhance their performance in up to three subjects—science, mathematics, social science, and languages.
Despite the structural changes in scheduling and sessions, the underlying syllabus and examination scheme remain unchanged. Like previous years, the students will still be assessed on the full annual syllabus as before. To read more, click here.
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Date Sheet Released in October
For the first time, the board released the datesheet of exams in October this year. The board earlier released a tentative datesheet to give an idea to the students and parents as well as teachers. A month after releasing the tentative, the board finally released the final date sheet for classes 10 and 12. Both the exams will begin on February 17. This early release provides students ample time for planning as well as revision.
No clash with JEE, NEET
CBSE coordinated with the National Testing Agency (NTA) to ensure board exams do not overlap with The Joint Entrance Examination, which is the major entrance test for engineering. Students’ Class 11 registration numbers will be required in the JEE Main registration process.
Since class 12 students appear in the JEE Mains exam, the boad has scheduled the last exam for session 2 on April 9, which is a day before the JEE Mains exam on April 10.
One must know that this move comes after years of clashes between CBSE exams and JEE Main. The clash had previously caused stress and inconvenience for students preparing for both exams. Along with considering JEE, the board has emphasized that sufficient gaps have been provided between subjects while preparing the timetable. To read more about it, click here.
As part of efforts to reduce errors and protect the integrity of the exam process, CBSE has introduced a “data verification slip” for schools submitting the List of Candidates (LOC). Schools must generate and share this slip with each student for verifying name, date of birth, subjects, and other details. Corrections are allowed only during a limited window. Special procedures have also been strengthened for students with disabilities (CWSN category) to ensure correct categorisation and availing of relaxations.
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