CBSE's draft norms for conducting class 10 board exams twice: Key details

NEW DELHI: Central Board of Secondary Education on Tuesday approved draft norms for conducting

Class 10 board exams twice a year

from 2026.
The board will the new norms in the public domain after which stakeholders can submit their feedback till March 9 following which the policy will be finalised.
As per the draft norms, the first phase of the exams will be conducted from February 17 to March 6, while the second phase will be conducted from May 5 to 20.
According to the draft, both examinations will be conducted on full syllabus. However, practical or internal assessment will be conducted only once.

The new draft states that same centres will be allotted for both editions. The examination fees will also be enhanced.
"Both the examinations will be conducted on full syllabus and the candidates will be allotted the same examination centres in the two editions. Exam fees will be enhanced and collected for both exams at the time of application filing," a senior board official 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," the official added.
CBSE has announced plans to implement multiple board exams annually, allowing students to take their exams twice and retain their best score. This reform aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises flexibility and a student centric approach.
The move also supports NEP’s goal of inclusivity, accommodating students facing challenges such as exam anxiety or illness. Providing multiple attempts ensures students from diverse backgrounds have a fair chance to showcase their abilities. CBSE is also scaling up teacher training to ensure a smooth transition toward this progressive assessment model.