CBSE private candidates challenge cancellation of post-Class 12 additional subject exam in Delhi HC

A group of students has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to cancel the post-Class 12 additional subject examination. Students say the cancellation has left them with limited academic options and no recognised alternatives for career planning.

The exam, which included subjects such as Mathematics, was an option for private candidates who had already cleared Class 12. For those in the Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) stream, it offered an opportunity to add Mathematics later and apply for courses in engineering, economics, computer science or Bachelor of Technology (BTech) through Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or other engineering entrance tests.

Students say the cancellation was communicated only in September 2025. By then, admission deadlines in most universities had passed, and many students had already taken a drop year, intending to appear for this exam.

Limited academic options for students

According to them, the sudden move has left thousands with little choice but to stick to medical pathways through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), or consider expensive private medical colleges.

“Many students had even taken a gap year specifically to prepare for this additional subject exam . By cancelling it in September 2025, CBSE effectively closed all doors—admissions had already concluded, and the exam itself was scrapped,” a private CBSE student wrote to Careers360.

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NIOS option not feasible

The petition also draws attention to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) route, which the board has informally suggested as an alternative. Students opting to appear as private candidates in board exam argue that this option is not feasible. While NIOS allows single-subject on-demand exams, most universities do not recognise them.

“NIOS single-subject exams are not accepted by most universities, leaving students academically stranded,” he further said. In effect, candidates would be required to repeat all five subjects, something they had deliberately avoided by staying with CBSE.

Students seek restoration of cancelled additional exam

The plea before the High Court stresses that this decision has not only wasted a year of preparation for many but has also caused financial and academic setbacks. It adds that the uncertainty has placed heavy stress on students and their families.

The petitioners have asked for either restoration of the additional subject exam or an alternative that is formally recognised by universities. The court will hear the matter further in the coming weeks.

The CBSE has released the tentative timetable for the CBSE Class 12 board exams 2026. According to it, the CBSE Class 12 exams are scheduled to be held from February 17 to April 9, 2026.