CBSE Approves Draft Norms for Conducting Class 10 Board Exams Twice a Year

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved draft norms for conducting Class 10 board exams twice a year starting in 2026. The draft guidelines will be open for public feedback until March 9, after which the policy will be finalized.

Exam Schedule and Key Guidelines

According to the proposed norms, the exams will be conducted in two phases:

• First Phase: February 17 to March 6
• Second Phase: May 5 to 20

Both exams will cover the full syllabus, and students will be allotted the same examination centers for both attempts. The exam fees will be increased and collected at the time of application filing.

Supplementary Exams and Policy Implications

A senior board official clarified that these biannual exams will also serve as supplementary exams, meaning no separate supplementary exams will be conducted. This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) recommendation, which aims to reduce the “high-stakes” pressure of board exams by allowing students two opportunities in a single academic year.

The policy is expected to provide flexibility to students while ensuring they have another chance to improve their scores without waiting for an entire year.

Source: Business Standard