Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 25: In a major shift aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday approved norms to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting from 2026.

As per the approved guidelines, students will now have two chances to appear for the Class 10 board exams in one academic year first in February and optionally again in May. However, officials clarified that it will be mandatory for all students to take the first phase of the exam in February.

CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj stated, “The first phase will be conducted in February and the second in May. Results will be declared in April and June, respectively.” He further added that students will be allowed to improve their scores in up to three subjects from science, mathematics, social science, and languages.

The board also announced that students from winter-bound schools will have the flexibility to appear in either of the two phases. However, internal assessment will continue to be held just once in the academic session.

The revised exam structure, initially released in draft form by the CBSE in February, was placed in the public domain to gather feedback from stakeholders before being finalised.

The move is in line with NEP 2020, which recommends reducing the 'high-stakes' nature of board exams. It envisions making assessments more flexible and student-centric, with an aim to encourage holistic development and reduce the pressure of single-attempt evaluations.

The NEP further advocates redesigning board and entrance exams to discourage dependency on coaching classes and allow students to pursue subjects aligned with their individual interests.