The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is introducing a dual examination policy for Class 10 students starting in 2026, allowing them to appear for board exams twice in an academic year.
This reform, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to reduce exam stress and provide students with a "best of two scores" option.
Further specific rules regarding the policy are detailed in the official CBSE press release, which is available as a PDF document on the CBSE website.
Scheme of Two Board Examinations
(i) General Conditions:
- Mandatory for all students to appear in the first Board examination.
- Passed and eligible students can improve performance in any of three subjects: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages.
- Students not appearing in 3 or more subjects in the first exam will not be allowed in the second exam and will be placed in the "Essential Repeat" category, eligible to take the exam next year in February.
- Students with a "Compartment" result in the first exam can appear in the second exam under the Compartment Category.
- No additional subjects permitted after passing class X; stand-alone subjects are not allowed.
(ii) Scheme for Special Category:
- Sports students can appear in the second exam for subjects coinciding with sports events.
- Winter Bound Schools’ students may choose to appear in either the first or second exam in offered subjects.
- Facilities for CWSN candidates will be extended to second examinations.
(iii) Conduct of Internal Assessment:
- Internal assessment will be conducted only once before the main examinations.
(iv) Schedule of the Examinations:
- Main or first examinations begin from Mid-February.
- Second examination will be conducted in May.
(v). Eligibility Criteria for Appearing in the Examinations
- First examination will be the main examination. The eligibility to appear in the first examination will be:
(a) Fresh students of Class X
(b) Second Chance Compartment
(c) Essential Repeat of previous year
(d) Improvement examination
- The eligibility to appear in the second examination will be:
(a) Improvement category up to 3 main subjects
(b) First/Third Chance Compartment
(c) Compartment + Improvement
(d) Improvement for the students passed by the replacement of the subject.
(vi). Syllabus and Scheme of Examinations
- Both the examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for the year.
- The scheme of studies and scheme of examinations will remain the same.
(vii). LOC Submission for the examinations
- Filling of LOC and appearing in the Main/first examination will be compulsory.
- LOC for the 2nd examinations will be filled in separately. However, no new names will be added to the LOC of the 2nd examination.
- Subject change will not be allowed from first examination to second examinations except permitted as per policy.
(viii). Result Declaration
- Result of all the students will be declared as per Examination Bye-Laws.
- Result of First examinations will be declared in the month of April.
- Result of second examinations will be declared in the month of June.
- Performance of main examination will be made available in DigiLocker. This could be used for admission to class XI if the student does not wish to appear in 2nd examinations for improvement. Passing document will be issued to all the students after the results of Second examinations.
- Merit certificate will also be issued only after second examination.
(ix). Post Result Facilities
- Facilities of Photocopy, verification and re-evaluation will be available only after declaration of results of 2nd examination for both the examinations i.e. Main and 2nd examinations.
(x). Admission in Class XI
- Students not qualified in the main examination will be allowed provisional admission in Class XI and based on the result of the 2nd examination, their admission will be confirmed.
All schools are accordingly directed to bring the policy of two examinations 2025-2026 to the notice of parents and students and to orient them well about the policy. It is also directed to collect all relevant data correctly from students for filling up of LOC with correct subjects offered by them.
As Board will hold two examinations, hence, it is desired from the parents, students and schools that they will take ensure timely completion of all the activities with correct data.
