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CBSE Board Exams 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education has, in the past few months, announced various new changes in the board examinations 2026. These changes are essential for students and educators alike to know how to prepare for the upcoming exams. Here are some pointers on the changes made by CBSE.
CBSE 2026 Exam Rule Changes: Two Exam Policy, Minimum Attendance, Sports Provisions and more
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on August 4 issued a fresh directive reiterating the mandatory requirement of 75 per cent attendance for students appearing in the Class 10 and 12 board examinations in the 2025-26 academic session.
— After deciding to offer Science and Social Science at two levels – basic and advanced — at the secondary stage, the CBSE plans to extend the model to STEM subjects at the higher secondary level, starting with Class 11 in the 2026–27 academic session.
— The Central Board of Secondary Education announced the introduction of a two-term examination system for Class 10 starting from the 2026 academic year. In an official announcement, the CBSE clarified that the first ‘main’ board examination will be conducted in mid-February 2026, followed by a second exam in May 2026.
— The CBSE has done away with the option of allowing private candidates to take an exam in ‘additional subject’ from 2026, in a move that students said they should have been informed about earlier in the year. A senior CBSE official said the option of taking an ‘additional subject’ as a private candidate has been removed since the board is not only about appearing for an exam, but also about schooling.
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to introduce Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 students beginning with the 2026-27 academic session. The plan, cleared by the board’s Governing Body in June, follows a pilot study that was conducted in late 2023 across select schools for Classes 9 to 12.
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced special provisions for students of Classes 10 and 12 who are representing India in national or international sports events or international Olympiads. For Class 10, under the new two-exam policy – first in February 2026, second in May 2026- sports students can only take special exams during the second cycle in May. No separate examination will be held after the first cycle. Students must fill out the LOC (List of Candidates) for the main exam as usual. In case of compartment students, exams will be conducted in February or March 2026. For Class 12, policy remains unchanged. If the main Board examination clashes with a recognised event, CBSE will re-conduct the exam after the main exam cycle.
— The Board has also asked schools to map students’ mother tongues and stated that, from pre-primary to Class 2, teaching should be in the child’s mother tongue or a familiar regional language.
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has updated its affiliation norms to include a new provision mandating the installation of high-resolution CCTV cameras with audio-visual recording capabilities across all key areas of school campuses. This amendment has been made under Chapter 4, which deals with physical infrastructure requirements for affiliated schools.
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on May 14 directed all its affiliated schools across India to establish dedicated ‘sugar boards’ within their campuses. The move is part of a broader nationwide awareness and intervention strategy to reduce excessive sugar consumption among school-going children.
CBSE, CISCE Fitness Initiatives: ‘Displaying boards not enough,’ opine parents
— The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has initiated the in-house development of educational podcasts and digital content focusing on academic and counselling-related matters. According to an official statement, the content is being prepared to provide meaningful guidance, awareness and support to students, parents and schools.
