Beginning in 2026, Class 10 students under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will take board exams twice in an academic year, in line with the New Education Policy’s (NEP) recommendation to reduce exam-related stress. According to officials, the first exam phase will be held in February and will be mandatory for all students, while the second phase, scheduled for May, will be optional for those seeking to improve their performance.
CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed the board’s approval of the new exam format. “Students will appear mandatorily in the February exam. Those wishing to enhance their marks may attempt the May exam in up to three subjects — from science, mathematics, social science, and languages,” he said.
The results of the first phase will be declared in April, while the second phase results will be released in June. The board also clarified that internal assessments will continue to be held only once per academic session.
Students from winter-bound schools will have the flexibility to choose either of the two exam phases. This new system aims to eliminate the “high-stakes” nature of board exams and provide students with an opportunity to perform better without pressure.
The policy shift follows public feedback on a draft shared earlier this year and is expected to mark a transformative step in India’s secondary education landscape.
