Over 2,700 private candidates registered for CBSE ‘additional subject’ in 2025; option to be discontinued from 2026 exams

For the 2025 exam, a total of 2768 private candidates registered for the ‘additional subject’ option. Of them, 78% or 2161 candidates appeared for the exam.

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In 2024, a smaller number of 2225 private candidates registered to take the exam in an additional subject. Around 74% of those who registered (1657 candidates) appeared for the exam.

The CBSE had, so far, been giving students the option of taking the exam in an ‘additional subject’ for two years after they clear the class 12 board examination. This ‘additional subject’ is one that they would not have studied in class 11 and 12, but might want to take an examination in it for the purpose of giving entrance exams for which that subject is a requirement. For instance, students who studied physics, chemistry, and biology in class 11 and 12 might take mathematics as an ‘additional subject’ a year after they cleared their class 12 board exam, so that they can give the JEE.

The CBSE has done away with this option for the 2026 board exam, for both class 10 and 12.

While class 12 students could take the exam in one additional subject, class 10 students were allowed to take the exam in two subjects. Students could take the exam in subjects that involved projects, but not practical components.

For the class 10 exam, 375 private candidates registered for the additional subject option in 2025, and 311 of them appeared for the exam. In 2024, a total of 267 candidates appeared for the exam out of the 330 candidates who registered.

A senior official in the CBSE had said on Monday that the Board had decided to do away with the option since marks for internal assessments cannot be assigned when a private candidate registers for an additional subject. The official also pointed out that the Board focuses on schooling and not just on taking the exams.

Students who have dropped a year to be able to take the exam in an additional subject in 2026 say that the Board’s decision should have been communicated earlier. They have also pointed out that the decision removes the flexibility that this option had given them so far.