Draft norms for conducting Class 10 board exams twice a year approved by CBSE

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) approved draft rules for holding Class 10 board exams twice a year beginning in 2026, according to education ministry officials.

The draft rules will now be made public, and stakeholders will have until March 9 to provide feedback, after which the policy will be finalised, officials said.

According to the proposed draft, the first phase of the exams will take place from February 17 to March 6, followed by the second phase from May 5 to 20.

According to a public notice issued by CBSE, “The National Education Policy 2020 has recommended that students will be given an opportunity to improve their performance in Board examinations. A meeting was organised in the Ministry of Education, chaired by the Minister of Education, wherein the following were discussed: In Class X, two board examinations to be conducted from 2025-26.”

It further stated that a draft policy for the same had been created. This draft policy will be posted on the CBSE website to solicit feedback from all stakeholders, including schools, teachers, parents, students, and the general public, TNIE reported.

The draft policy was prepared following extensive discussions and is available on the CBSE website. Officials further stated that both examinations will cover the entire syllabus and that candidates will be assigned to the same examination centres in both editions.

“Exam fees will be enhanced and collected for both exams at the time of application filing," CBSE officials said.

“The first and second editions of the board exams will also act as supplementary exams, and no special exams will be conducted in any circumstances," they added.

The goal of conducting Class X board exams twice a year is to alleviate stress and allow students to improve their grades.