CBSE to Conduct Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year from 2026; First in February–March, Second in May
New Delhi, 25th June 2025: In a significant shift aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that Class 10 board exams will be held twice a year starting from the academic session 2026.
The new system introduces two optional exam sessions—the main exam in February–March and an improvement/retest session in May. Students can choose to appear for either one or both attempts, depending on their satisfaction with the first result. However, they cannot change subjects between the two exams.
This move is intended to ease exam pressure and give students more than one opportunity to perform, promoting a more flexible and competency-focused assessment process.
Key Dates and Timeline
First Exam
Start: 17 February 2026
End: 7 March 2026
Result: 20 April 2026
Second Exam (Improvement Option)
Start: 5 May 2026
End: 20 May 2026
Result: 30 June 2026
Merit Certificate and Re-evaluation After Second Exam Only
The final merit certificate will be issued only after the conclusion of the second exam cycle. Similarly, facilities such as obtaining photocopies of answer sheets and applying for re-evaluation will be available exclusively after the May session.
Winter-Bound Schools Get Special Flexibility
Schools in winter-bound regions such as Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim will have the option to choose either of the two exam schedules. However, the choice must be made at the institutional level, not individually by students.
The CBSE clarified that this dual-exam model is part of a broader effort to align school education with the goals of NEP 2020, emphasizing reduced reliance on rote learning and encouraging core concept understanding.
