(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) New Delhi- From 2026, Class-10 students will be able to take CBSE board exams twice in an academic session but it will be mandatory for them to appear for the first phase in February, officials said on Wednesday.

The second phase scheduled in May will be optional for students who wish to improve their performance. In case a student appears for both the phases, the best score of the two will be retained, they said.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has approved the norms for conducting board exams twice a year for Class-10, a move recommended in the new National Education Policy (NEP).

“The first phase will be conducted in February and second in May. The results for the two phases will be announced in April and June, respectively,” CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.

“It will be mandatory (for students) to appear for the first phase while the second phase will be optional. Students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science and languages,” he added.

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Explaining the rationale behind making the first phase mandatory for the students, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said it is being done to ensure that students take the exams seriously and the sanctity of the board exams is maintained.

“If a student does not appeared for three or more subjects in the first examination, he or she will not be allowed to appear for the second exam. Such students will be placed in the 'Essential Repeat' category and can take the examination only next year in the main exam in February,” he said.

“Students whose result in the first examination is compartment will be allowed to appear in the second examination under the compartment category. Additional subjects will not be permitted after passing Class-10, students will not be allowed in stand-alone subjects,” he added.

According to the approved norms, Class-10 students from winter-bound schools will get an option to appear for the board exams in any of the two phases.

Similarly, sports students will be allowed to appear in the second phase in subjects which coincide with their sports events.

The internal assessment will be conducted only once during the academic session.

The CBSE announced the draft norms in February, which were put in the public domain for stakeholders' feedback, including from schools, teachers, parents, students and the public.

The draft norms said the two phases will be optional and students will get the choice to either appear for both, or any of the two.

The new NEP recommended that to eliminate the“high-stakes” aspect of the board exams, all students will be allowed to take the exams on up to two occasions during any given school year.

Both the examinations will be conducted on the full syllabus meant for the year and the scheme of studies and scheme of examinations will remain the same.

The Board has clarified that no separate supplementary exams will be conducted under this system. Instead, the second session of the Board exam will serve as the supplementary exam for those who wish to improve their scores.

At present also, students have an opportunity to improve their scores in supplementary exams.

“Presently, students can improve scores in two subjects and the improvement exams are conducted in July, the results of which are announced in August.

“So, in the new setup, the second phase of exams will be conducted in May and the results will be declared in June. Also, students can attempt to improve their scores in three subjects instead of two,” Bhardwaj said.

CBSE Class X Exams Twice a Year to Ease Stress: Minister

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday lauded CBSE's decision to conduct class 10 exams twice a year as a“much-needed step” and said it would reduce stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced that from 2026, class 10 students will be able to take board exams twice in an academic session, but it will be mandatory for them to appear for the first phase in February.

The second phase, scheduled in May, will be optional for students who wish to improve their performance. In case a student appears for both phases, the best score of the two will be retained.

CBSE has approved the norms for conducting board exams twice a year for class 10, a move recommended in the new National Education Policy (NEP).

“Laudable and a much-needed step. This will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment. A key recommendation of NEP 2020, twice-a-year exams is a student-centric approach and also aligns with global education practices,” Pradhan wrote on X.

According to Ministry of Education officials, it is a landmark shift towards competency-based assessments that value understanding over rote learning.

“A major reform under NEP empowers students with choice, confidence, and second chances, reflecting NEP 2020's vision of a more inclusive, learner-centric education system based on joyful curiosity,” a senior ministry official said.

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