By The Sampadak Express
In a significant reform aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will implement a biannual Class 10 board exam system starting from the academic year 2026.
As per the new structure, students will have two opportunities to appear for their board exams in a single academic session. The first exam will be mandatory and conducted in February, while the second exam, scheduled for May, will be optional meant for students who wish to improve their performance in select subjects.
CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed that results for the February exam will be released in April, and those for the May attempt will follow in June. Students can choose to improve their scores in up to three subjects, including Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages.
For winter-bound schools, students will be allowed to take the exam in either of the two sessions.
Importantly, the internal assessment system will remain unchanged and continue to be held only once per academic year.
This development follows a period of stakeholder consultation. CBSE had earlier released draft guidelines in February and sought feedback from schools, teachers, and education experts. The final decision has now been approved as part of ongoing efforts to make board exams less stressful and more student-friendly.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also announced the move last month, calling it a major step toward a flexible and stress-free evaluation process. Drawing a parallel with the JEE Main format, he noted that allowing students to appear twice gives them a chance to choose their best performance.”
The feedback I’ve received shows students are happy with this decision. It aligns perfectly with NEP’s vision of holistic and stress-free education,” the minister stated.
With this reform, CBSE aims to reduce exam pressure, enhance learning outcomes, and promote a more balanced academic environment for students across the country.
