Rajasthan scraps no-detention policy for Class 5 board exam from 2026; re-exam for failed students

In a major revamp of the state school education policy, the Rajasthan government is set to discontinue the no-detention policy for students failing the Class 5 board exam. Under the proposed changes, students who fail the Rajasthan board exam will not be promoted to the next class; instead, they will be required to appear for a re-exam.

Students failing the Class 5 board exam were automatically promoted to the next class, as per the earlier no-detention rule. Rajasthan began conducting board exams for Class 5 from 2017 onwards. This year, Rajasthan Class 5 board exam 2026 will be conducted from February 20 to March 5.

According to the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE), students who fail the board exam will have to repeat the same class, starting from the academic year 2026-27. This move will end the Rajasthan no-detention policy at the elementary level.

Such students will be given an opportunity to appear for re-exam; however, they will be required to repeat the class if they do not clear it.

Stating that preparations are underway to end the no-detention policy, the Rajasthan government said that the practice of promoting students without failure had reduced the seriousness toward studies. The new rule aims to improve the quality of learning and address declining academic standards of students.

An official notification will be issued by the Rajasthan education department, the RBSE said.

Also read Samagra Shiksha set for major revamp; Dharmendra Pradhan pushes for outcome-driven, NEP-aligned framework

RBSE Class 9, 11 question papers

In a separate announcement, the education department has issued strict instructions to strengthen the security of question papers for classes 9 and 11 exams.

As per the order, if question papers are stored at the offices of the PEEO or UCEO under any emergency circumstances, round-the-clock security arrangements will be mandatory. Staff will be deployed on a 24-hour basis to prevent paper lead and any breach of confidentiality.

The board has given the powers to district education officers (Headquarters), secondary education, to decide whether question papers should be stored in police stations or PEEO or UCEO offices. They have been also instructed to train the officials and only they will be appointed as centre superintendents or examination in-charges, it clarified.