New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released a draft policy proposing to conduct Class X board examinations twice a year, starting from 2026. This move aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to reduce academic pressure and provide students with more flexibility in assessments.
As per Paragraph 4.37 of NEP-2020, board exams will be reformed to eliminate the excessive need for coaching and encourage holistic learning. The focus will be on assessing students' core competencies rather than rote memorization. Additionally, students will be allowed to take board exams twice in a given academic year—one main attempt and an optional improvement attempt—helping to reduce the high-stakes pressure of a single annual exam.
Similarly, Paragraph 4.38 of NEP-2020 emphasizes introducing greater flexibility and student choice in exams. Over time, boards may explore models such as modular or semester-based board exams to distribute assessment pressure evenly. There is also a possibility of offering subjects at two levels (standard and advanced) and incorporating a mix of objective and descriptive question formats.
CBSE’s Proposed Implementation Plan
In response to these recommendations, CBSE has formulated a draft scheme for conducting Class X board exams in two phases starting in 2026. The key highlights of the proposal include:
- First Phase: February 17 to March 6, 2026
- Second Phase: May 5 to May 20, 2026
- Expected Students for Class X (2026): 26.60 lakh
- Total Duration of Exams: 34 days (18 days in the first phase and 16 days in the second phase)
- Subjects Offered: 84
- Answer Books to be Evaluated: Approximately 1.72 crore
Key Features of the New Examination System
- Class X and XII board exams will commence on the first Tuesday after February 15.
- In 2026, about 26.60 lakh students are expected to appear for Class X exams, while nearly 20 lakh students will take the Class XII exams.
- The exams will be based on the complete syllabus and prescribed textbooks.
- Core subjects like Science, Mathematics, Social Science, Hindi, and English will follow a fixed schedule.
- Regional and foreign language subjects will be grouped and conducted together on a single day.
- CBSE has invited public suggestions on the draft policy, which has been uploaded on its official website. Educationists, parents, and stakeholders can share their feedback before the policy is finalized.
This initiative is seen as a major reform in India’s examination system, aiming to ease student stress and promote a more flexible, learning-focused approach.
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