CBSE 2026 Exam Rule Changes: New Guidelines for Class 10 & 12 Board Exams

Option to Choose Between Two Exams

From 2026 onwards, CBSE will implement the two-board exam system for Class 10 students. The first set of CBSE Class 10 board exams is scheduled to commence from February 17 to March 9, 2026, while the second round will take place from May 15 to June 1, 2026.

• For CBSE Class 10 sports students who miss exams due to sports events, the special exam will now be conducted only along with the second board examination in May 2026.

• For CBSE Class 12 students, there is no change in the scheme. If examinations clash with sports events or travel schedules, such students will be given a chance to appear in re-conducted exams after the first exam cycle ends.

Read Details on: CBSE Board Exams 2026 Twice a Year Here

No Separate Exams for Sports Students

CBSE has clarified that no additional or separate examination will be organised exclusively for sports students. Instead, sports students will need to appear in the second exam cycle if they miss any subject in the first attempt due to sports commitments.

LOC is Mandatory for All Students

Some of the new changes regarding the LOC (List of Candidates) include:

• LOC must be completed by the end of September of the year before the exam year.

• Once submitted, no change in subjects will be allowed for the first examination. Any changes can be considered only for the second examination.

• Filling in and submitting the LOC for the first exam is compulsory. Students can also indicate their choice for both exams while submitting the LOC.

• For the CBSE second examination, LOC will only be made live after the declaration of the first board examination results.

• Examination fees for both exams will be collected at the time of the first LOC submission and will be non-refundable.

• All schedules once declared will remain fixed, and no deviations will be permitted.

Also, Check: CBSE LOC: Registrations 2025-26

CBSE First Board Exam is Mandatory for All

• CBSE has made it clear that appearing in the first exam is compulsory for all students.

• The second examination is an additional opportunity, but it cannot replace the first.

Read Details Here: Is it Mandatory to Appear in CBSE Two Board Exams

CBSE Minimum Attendance Rule

• To be eligible to appear in the CBSE board exams, students must maintain a minimum of 75% attendance during the academic year.

• Schools will be responsible for monitoring and reporting attendance records.

Also, Read: CBSE Minimum Attendance and Exemption Rules Here

Internal Assessment is Compulsory

• Internal assessment will continue to be an integral part of CBSE evaluation under NEP-2020. It involves projects, assignments, and periodic tests.

• Students not attending school regularly will not be able to complete their internal assessment, and their results cannot be declared. Such students will be placed under the ‘Essential Repeat’ category.

Additional Subject Must be Studied for 2 Years

• CBSE has clarified that additional subjects can only be offered if they have been studied for a minimum of two years.

• For Class 10, students may take up to two additional subjects along with the compulsory five subjects, while for Class 12, only one additional subject is allowed.

Subject Without Teacher Cannot Be Offered

• If a school does not have teachers or labs for a particular subject and has not taken permission from CBSE, students of that school cannot be offered the subject as a main or additional subject.

• This move is targeted to ensure academic credibility and prevent the misuse of subject offerings.

Additional Subject Rule for Private Students

• If a regular student has already offered additional subject(s) in previous years and is placed in either the ‘Compartment’ or ‘Essential Repeat’ category, they can appear as a CBSE private candidate under the same category for those additional subjects.

• However, any student who does not meet these conditions will not be eligible to appear in additional subjects as a private candidate in the CBSE board exams.

• Private candidates who have already been offered additional subjects in the past and are now appearing under Compartment or Essential Repeat categories may still choose to appear with their additional subjects. However, for new private candidates, the rules regarding additional subject eligibility will strictly apply.

For the Latest Updates and News on CBSE 2026 Board Exams, students can click on the link provided to stay updated.