New Delhi, September 24: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will hold its Class X and Class XII board examinations starting February 17, 2026, officials said Wednesday. The board has released a tentative schedule marking a significant change in the academic calendar.
For the first time, Class X students will take board exams in two sessions within a single academic year. “The first edition will be conducted from February 17 to March 6, 2026, while the second edition is scheduled from May 15 to June 1,” CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.
Class XII examinations will also begin on February 17 but will extend until April 9, 2026. The schedule sets up a longer window for the senior secondary level, covering a wide range of subjects over nearly two months.
Officials said the evaluation of answer scripts will follow a clear timeline. “As a general guideline, evaluation of answer scripts will commence approximately 10 days after the conduct of each subject’s examination and will be completed within 12 days,” Bhardwaj noted. He gave an example: “If the Class XII Physics examination is scheduled for February 20, 2026, evaluation is likely to begin on March 3 and conclude by March 15.”
The decision marks a shift in CBSE’s exam strategy, introducing staggered schedules and defined evaluation timelines aimed at smoother administration of the board process.
