New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the exam schedule for Class 10th and 12th board exams, starting February 17, 2026. With this important announcement, candidates have time to prepare.
When to Exam Held?
The main exams for both Class 10th and 12th will begin on February 17, 2026. The first cycle of Class 10th exams will be held in February-March, while the improvement/second chance exams will be held in May-June. Class 12th exams are expected to be completed by April 2026.
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What’s New?
Board exams for Class 10th are being conducted in two phases. This change is in line with some of the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). Exams Will Begin At Approximately 10:30 AM daily.
Taking into account subject combinations and student lists, datesheets have been prepared for over 40,000 combinations so that two subjects are not held on the same day.
Evaluation arrangements for early commencement of post-exam evaluations: Evaluations for most subjects will begin within 10-12 days.
Key Dates By Subject
Class 10th: Starting February 17, 2026, papers released in March.
Class 12th (Science): Starting February 17, 2026, with Biotechnology, followed by Physics, Chemistry, etc.
CBSE declares class 12 compartment exam results; Click here to check
Suggestions for Students and Parents
Schools and students should regularly check the Board’s official website for the final datesheet: www.cbse.gov.in
The preliminary schedule has been released, but be prepared for final approval and possible changes.
An effort has been made to maintain adequate gaps between core subjects, but still pay special attention to practice and time management.
If Class 10th exams are being conducted in two stages, plan for improvement/second chance while preparing for the first stage.
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Keep the evaluation timeline in mind to ensure time for further processes (higher education, entrance exams, etc.) after the results are declared.
This new CBSE datesheet has given students more time to plan their preparations in an organized manner. Considering the changes, especially the two-stage model for Class 10th-all students and schools will need to develop better strategies.