CBSE board exams twice a year from 2026-27; 2 subject groups, 'better of two marks' in draft policy

NEW DELHI: For conducting board exams twice a year starting from the 2026-2027 session, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed dividing subjects into two major groups, holding regional and foreign language papers on a single day, among other reforms. The draft policy has been prepared following a meeting chaired by the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Students, teachers, parents, and academicians can share their feedback on the draft by March 9.

As per the draft scheme, the board exams 2026 will be held in two phases – first phase from February 17 to March 6 and second phase from May 5 to May 20. Students will be given an opportunity to appear in CBSE board exams 2026 twice to improve their marks. Around 20.26 lakh students are expected to appear in Class 10 board exams 2026 while 20 lakh are likely to take Class 12 board exams 2026.

CBSE Board Exams 2026: Syllabus, subject groups

Both phases of CBSE board exams will be based on the complete syllabus. Except science, mathematics, social science, Hindi, and English, the subjects will be grouped into two major groups – regional and foreign languages in one group and remaining subjects in one group.

CBSE will conduct the exams of minor subjects two to three times on two or three days, based on the choices of candidates.

The subject groups in CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2026 will be as follows:

Board Exams 2026: Exam centres, option for students

No separate exams will be held for sports students while the same facilities will be provided to the Children With Special Needs (CWSN) candidates as now, CBSE added.

The CBSE Board exam centres 2026 will be fixed in the first phase of exams and will remain the same for exams in both the phases.

The board clarified that students will not be allowed to change the subjects once submitted in the List of Candidates (LOC). The board will consider the changes in subject only in the second phase of the exam. While filing the LOC for the phase 1 board exams 2026, schools will obtain the option for both exams from candidates. For phase 2 board exams, LOC will be made live immediately after the result declaration only for opting out of the second phase.

If any student wishes to change the subject after submission of LOC, he or she can opt not to appear in that subject during the first examination. If they appear in the 1st phase, they will not be permitted to change the subject in the 2nd phase.

CBSE Board Exam 2026: Fee, supplementary exams, admissions

While the first or second CBSE board exams will be considered as supplementary exams, no special exam will be held, it said.

CBSE will increase the exam fee and collect it for both the exams during the LOC for the first phase of exams. “Examination fee will be enhanced and collected for both examinations at the time of filling of LOC for the first time which would be non-refundable if once paid,” it stated.

The board will not issue any passing document after phase 1 results, however, candidates’ marksheets will be made available in the DigiLocker. If a student does not wish to appear for the phase 2 exams, they will be able to seek Class 11 admissions with the help of the online marksheet. If a student fails to clear phase 1 exams, they may be admitted into Class 11 and the schools can finalise their admissions after phase 2 results.

CBSE passing criteria 2026

Practical exams and internal assessment will be conducted only once. The CBSE Class 10, 12 marksheets will mention the phase-wise marks along with the “better of the two marks”.

The merit certificate will be issued only after phase 2 exams and students who qualify all five subjects will be declared pass. Students who do not pass from one to five subjects in the first examination will be placed under the "improvement category" and will be allowed to appear in the second examination to be held in July 2026.

If a student is declared pass by replacing the 6th or 7th subject, he or she will be eligible for improvement in the failed subject only for the next two examinations from their first examinations.