The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has made crucial modifications to the exam pattern for classes 10 and 12 board exams 2026. In a bid
to enhance fairness and transparency in the assessment process, the HP board has announced the introduction of identical question papers, and MCQs for Class 10, 12 annual exams 2026 for the exams scheduled from March 3 to 28 for Class 10 and from March 3 to April 1 for Class 12. New Exam Format A key reform in the new exam pattern includes the introduction of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), which will constitute 20% of the total marks for each paper. This initiative aims to streamline the examination process and ensure that students are evaluated more uniformly across different sets of question papers. Previously, variations in difficulty levels among question sets led to dissatisfaction among students, prompting the HP board to standardise the format. Chairman Rajesh Sharma stated, "All sets will now contain the same questions, only their order will be rearranged." Practical Exam Schedule The practical exams for both Class 10 and Class 12 will occur from February 20 to 28, 2026. The HPBOSE plans to issue admit cards for the practical examinations shortly. The examination results are expected to be announced by April 30, 2026. To facilitate a swift evaluation process, special evaluation centres will be established. Commitment to Transparency In a bid to improve the integrity of the examination process, all exam centres will be monitored from the Dharamshala headquarters via CCTV. Additionally, special flying squads will be deployed to sensitive centres to ensure compliance with examination protocols. Sharma highlighted that these measures align with the National Education Policy (NEP), designed to better prepare students for competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Future Initiatives Moreover, HPBOSE plans to implement a 'one school, one syllabus' scheme for Class 10 to further reduce student stress and enhance learning outcomes. This approach is expected to create a more cohesive learning environment, allowing students to focus on their studies without the burden of varying syllabi. As the HP Board prepares for the upcoming exams, these changes mark a pivotal shift towards a more equitable and student-centred examination system. The HP board remains committed to fostering an environment where students can perform to the best of their abilities, ensuring that assessment methods reflect their true capabilities.
