NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday released tentative date sheets for the 2026 board examinations for Classes 10 and 12, announcing that the exams will be held between February 17 and July 15, 2026.
According to the board, around 45 lakh candidates are expected to appear across 204 subjects in Classes 10 and 12 from India and 26 countries abroad. Apart from the main examinations, CBSE will also hold exams for sports students of Class 12, second board examinations for Class 10, and supplementary exams for Class 12 during this period.
The board said the advance release of the tentative schedule is aimed at helping stakeholders—students, teachers, and schools—plan effectively.
“This initiative will allow students to prepare structured study plans, help schools align academic and administrative activities, and enable teachers to plan their personal schedules, including vacations, with clarity,” the notification stated. The CBSE has also indicated that evaluation of answer scripts will commence about 10 days after the start of examinations, ensuring timely declaration of results.
In 2026, alongside the conduct of examinations, CBSE will undertake several other activities such as practical exams, evaluation, and post-result processes.
As a general guideline, the CBSE stated that the evaluation of answer scripts will commence approximately 10 days after the conduct of each subject’s examination and will be completed within 12 days. For instance, if the Class XII Physics examination is scheduled for February 22 while the evaluation is likely to begin on March 3, 2026 and conclude by March 15, 2026.
CBSE has clarified that these date sheets are tentative, and the final versions will be released once schools submit the final list of candidates.
A few days back, the CBSE had outlined essential parametres which are required for the students to appear in the examinations conducted by it. In a public notice issued, the CBSE also stated, “In the country, there are two National School Boards under the Ministry of Education, Government of India ie- CBSE and NIOS. CBSE is offering education through face to face mode while NIOS is offering education through Open and Distance Education Mode.”