NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday announced the implementation of its new policy of holding Class X board examinations twice a year from 2026.
The recommendation was made in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, and CBSE officials said the decision to implement the policy was taken following consultation with teachers, students, parents and principals.
The CBSE clarified that it will be mandatory for students to take the first board examination, which is usually conducted in mid-February. The second examination will be conducted in May. The results of the two examinations will be announced in April and June.
“It is mandatory for students to appear for the first board examination while the second will be optional. Students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science and languages,” CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj said.
Bhardwaj said students not appearing in three or more subjects in the first examination would be ineligible to appear in the second examination.
“Such students will be placed in the ‘essential repeat’ category and will be able to take the examination only next year in February. Moreover, for students whose result in the first examination is ‘compartment’, such students will be allowed to appear in the second examination under compartment category only,” the CBSE said.
CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said the two examination policy was framed in a way to ensure students took the exams seriously and the sanctity of the board exams was maintained.
According to the new policy, Class 10 students from winter-bound schools will get an option to appear for the board examinations in any of the two phases. Likewise, sports category students will be allowed to appear in the second phase of examination in those subjects which have coincided with their sports event.
The internal assessment will be conducted only once during the academic session. Officials have clarified that no separate compartment exams for Class X students will be conducted under the new system.
Instead, the second session of the Board exam will serve as the supplementary exam for those who wish to improve their scores. At present, students are allowed to improve scores in two subjects and the improvement exams are conducted in July, the results of which are announced in August.
Both the examinations will be conducted on the syllabus meant for the year. The scheme of studies and examinations will remain the same.
Students not qualified in the first examination will be allowed provisional admission in Class XI and based on the result of the second examination, their admission will be confirmed. The scores of best of the two will be taken into consideration.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Laudable and a much-needed step. This will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment. A key recommendation of NEP-2020, twice-a-year exams is a student-centric approach and also aligns with global education practices.”
The Ministry of Education said that the move would reduce high-stakes pressure, ease the burden on students, offer flexibility and promote joyful and stress-free learning.
“It is a landmark shift towards competency-based assessments that value understanding over rote learning. This reform empowers students with choice, confidence and second chance, reflecting the NEP-2020’s vision of a more inclusive, learner-centric education system based on joyful curiosity,” it said.