The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the guidelines to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2026, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The move aims to reduce exam-related stress and offer students a chance to improve their performance.
According to CBSE Exam Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, the first set of exams will be held in February and will be mandatory, while the second set in May will be optional. Students who are not satisfied with their performance in the first phase can attempt the second phase to improve their scores. However, internal assessment will be conducted only once during the academic session.
Under the approved structure, students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages. Results for the February session will be declared in April, while May session results will be out by June.
Students in schools located in winter-bound regions will also have the flexibility to appear in either of the two exam phases.
This reform comes after a draft of the policy was published earlier this year, followed by stakeholder consultations. It reflects the NEP’s objective of minimizing the “high-stakes” nature of board examinations and providing students with multiple opportunities to perform to their potential.
