In a landmark reform aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that students of Class X will have the option to appear for two board examinations in a single academic year starting from 2026. The move is aimed at reducing the high-stakes nature of board exams and enhancing student flexibility and performance.
The CBSE, in its notification dated June 25, stated that the first exam will be mandatory for all students and will serve as the main board exam, while the second exam will function as an opportunity for improvement. Students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects among Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages, provided they qualify in the first examination and meet other eligibility criteria.
The dual-exam policy is rooted in Paragraph 4.37 and 4.38 of the NEP 2020, which advocates for reducing pressure through flexible assessment methods. The policy is also designed to discourage coaching culture and promote competency-based evaluation.
Under the new scheme, students who fail to appear in three or more subjects in the first examination will not be allowed to take the second exam. These students will be classified under the “Essential Repeat” category and will need to reappear the following year in the regular board cycle. Similarly, those who fail in one or more subjects during the main examination will be eligible to appear in the second exam under the Compartment category.
The second exam will also serve as a platform for performance improvement for students who wish to enhance scores in up to three core subjects. However, subject changes between the two exams will not be allowed unless explicitly permitted under the policy. No new names will be accepted for the second exam, and additional subjects cannot be added after passing Class X.
Special provisions have been made for sports students whose examination schedules may clash with their events, allowing them to appear in both exams. Students from winter-bound schools can opt to appear in either the first or second set of exams, and facilities extended to students with disabilities will apply to both examinations.
The internal assessment process will be conducted only once, prior to the main examination. The first board exam will be held in mid-February as is currently the practice, while the second will be conducted in May. Both exams will cover the full syllabus for the academic year, and the existing scheme of studies and examination pattern will remain unchanged.
CBSE has clarified that students appearing for the first exam will include fresh Class X candidates, those reappearing due to prior year compartments, and those appearing for improvement. The second exam will accommodate candidates under the improvement, compartment, or both categories, provided they are eligible under the new framework.
Results for the first exam will be declared in April and made available via DigiLocker, allowing students to seek admission in Class XI if they do not wish to improve scores. However, final passing certificates and merit documents will only be issued after the results of the second examination in June.
The board has also specified that post-result facilities such as photocopying, verification, and re-evaluation of answer scripts will only be available after the declaration of results for the second exam. Students who do not qualify in the first exam will be allowed provisional admission in Class XI, subject to confirmation based on their performance in the second attempt.
Schools have been directed to inform parents and students about the new policy and ensure correct data collection for submission of Lists of Candidates (LOC) for both examinations. LOCs for the main and second exams will be filled separately, with the first being compulsory for all eligible students.
CBSE has urged all stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate completion of examination formalities in view of the dual-exam structure. The reform marks a significant shift in India’s secondary school assessment system and is expected to ease exam-related pressure while encouraging academic improvement.
