In a major relief for students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday announced that it will conduct Class 10 board examinations twice a year if necessary, starting from 2026.

The CBSE has stated that the decision has been taken as per the National Education Policy-2020, which mentions, “To further eliminate the ‘high stakes’ aspect of Board Exams, all students will be allowed to take Board Exams on up to two occasions during any given school year, one main examination and one for improvement, if desired.”

“In addition to introducing greater flexibility, student choice, and best-of-two attempts, assessments that primarily test core capacities must be the immediate key reforms to all Board exams. Boards may over time also develop further viable models of Board Exams that reduce pressure and the coaching culture,” CBSE mentioned in a statement quoting NEP 2020.

Aim is to make pressure from exams is better distributed, less intense: Board

“Some possibilities include: a system of annual/semester/modular Board Exams could be developed – that each test far less material, and are taken immediately after the corresponding course is taken in school – so that the pressure from exams is better distributed, less intense, and less high-stakes across the Secondary Stage; all subjects and corresponding assessments, beginning with mathematics, could be offered at two levels, with students doing some of their subjects at the standard level and some at a higher level; and Board exams in certain subjects could be redesigned to have two parts – one part of an objective type with multiple-choice questions and the other of a descriptive type,” the notification from the board further reads.

February board exam mandatory for all students

According to CBSE officials, the first board exam, scheduled for mid-February, will be mandatory for all. Students who qualify in this examination will have the option to improve their scores in up to three subjects — Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and two language papers by appearing in the second exam, which is entirely optional and additional.

Internal assessments will continue till the main examinations. Both examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for one year. Facilities of photocopy, verification and re-evaluation will be available only after the results of the second examination are declared.

Provision for students in Special Categories

Sports students will be allowed to appear in second exams in the subjects whose exams coincide with their sports event.

Students of winter bound schools may choose to appear either in first exam or second exam in offered subjects.

The facilities extended to Children with special needs will be extended in the second examination also.

Decision sparks mixed reactions

The decision has sparked mixed reactions among CBSE school authorities and parents across the country. While some have welcomed the move, others expressed concern that it could increase the workload on teachers and disrupt academic planning.

The new policy will be enforced from 2026.