The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced that the Class 10 and 12 board examinations will commence from February 17, 2026. This significant update was shared by officials on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, bringing clarity to students nationwide.
A provisional datesheet for these pivotal exams has also been released by the Board, allowing students and educators to prepare effectively.
Notably, this academic year marks a historic change: it’s the first time Class 10 board exams will be held twice within a single session.
According to CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, the initial phase of exams will run from February 17 to March 6, 2026. A second, optional phase is planned for May 15 to June 1, 2026.
This second session is designed for students eager to enhance their scores. Should a student take both examinations, only their higher score will be considered, providing a valuable opportunity for improvement.
Both examination phases will cover the entire year’s syllabus, with the existing scheme of studies and examination pattern remaining unchanged.
The Board has also clarified that under this new system, there will be no distinct supplementary exams. Instead, the second exam session will effectively function as the supplementary opportunity for those who wish to improve their scores.
Currently, students are offered supplementary exams to boost their academic performance.
For Class 12 students, the board exams are scheduled from February 17 to April 9, 2026, as confirmed by Mr. Bhardwaj.
Mr. Bhardwaj further detailed the evaluation process: “As a general guideline, the assessment of answer scripts will typically begin around 10 days after each subject’s examination and should be finalized within 12 days. For example, if the Class 12 Physics exam is on February 20, 2026, evaluation is expected to start by March 3, 2026, and finish by March 15, 2026.”
A staggering 45 lakh candidates are anticipated to participate in 204 subjects across both Class 10 and 12 examinations, not only from India but also from 26 other countries worldwide.