CBSE 10th Exam 2026 will be conducted twice a year. The board has released a draft. It includes the proposed CBSE 10th Date Sheet 2026. It also outlines subject groups and guidelines. Stakeholders like schools, teachers, parents, and students are encouraged to give feedback. The deadline for feedback is March 9.
CBSE Board Exam 2025 will also be held twice a year. This change is part of reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced this major update. It will start from the academic session 2025-2026. Students can appear for two board exams each year. The board has proposed conducting CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 twice a year.
The Ministry of Education hosted a key meeting. It was chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of Education. The policy change was discussed in detail. The goal is to reduce student pressure and stress. It also gives students a chance to improve their performance.
Key highlights of the proposed CBSE Class 10 Exams 2026 include two exams per year. Students can improve their results in the second exam. The exams will start on the first Tuesday after February 15 every year. CBSE Class 10 Exams 2026 will run from February 17 to March 6. The second phase will be from May 5 to May 20. The entire process will span 34 days. It will cover 84 subjects. Around 26.60 lakh students are expected to appear in 2026.
CBSE Class 10 subjects are divided into four groups. The Language Group includes English and Hindi. The Elective Group includes Science, Mathematics, and Social Science. The Regional & Foreign Languages Group includes French, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati, and Spanish. The Remaining Subjects Group includes Elements of Bookkeeping, Computer Applications, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence.
Two Exam Phases for 2026: Key Details
| Exam Phase | Examination Dates | Subjects Included | Expected Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Feb 17 to March 6, 2026 | Science, Maths, Social Science, Hindi, English | 26.60 lakh |
| Phase 2 | May 5 to May 20, 2026 | Regional and Foreign languages, and other electives like Computer Applications, Data Science, AI, etc. | 26.60 lakh |
CBSE 10th Board Exam 2026 Twice: Key Updates
| Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Exams for 1st & 2nd Phases | Fixed schedule, no deviation; no special exams will be conducted under any circumstances. |
| Practical Assessment | Only one practical exam will be conducted for all students. |
| Passing Criteria | Students need to pass five subjects for a pass status. |
| Merit Certificates | Issued post 2nd examination, for those qualifying all subjects. |
| Improvement Option | Students failing in 1 to 5 subjects will be placed under Improvement Category. |
| Additional Subjects | No additional subjects will be permitted after passing Class X. |
| Marking System | Better marks from the first or second exam will be recorded on the Marksheet. |
| Feedback Mechanism | The policy will be reviewed and finalized after collecting feedback from stakeholders. |
