The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the Class 10 and 12 board examinations will commence on February 17, 2026. This year marks a significant change as Class 10 exams will be held twice in a single academic session. The first phase will run from February 17 to March 6, while the second phase is scheduled from May 15 to June 1. This second exam will be optional for students wishing to improve their scores.

CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj stated, "If a student appears for both phases, the best score of the two will be retained." The Class 12 board exams will take place from February 17 to April 9, 2026. The evaluation of answer scripts will begin approximately 10 days after each exam and is expected to be completed within 12 days. For instance, if the Class 12 Physics exam is on February 20, evaluation will start on March 3 and conclude by March 15.

Around 45 lakh students are expected to participate in these exams, covering 204 subjects across India and 26 other countries. The board has clarified that there will be no separate supplementary exams; instead, the second session will serve this purpose for Class 10 students. Students will have the option to improve their performance in any three subjects during the second exam.

The CBSE has emphasized that the current dates are tentative and will be finalized after schools submit their candidate lists. This new examination pattern aims to provide students with more flexibility and opportunities to enhance their academic performance.