CBSE Dual Board Exam To Provide Second Chance To Students To Improve Scores, Syllabi Unchanged: Chairman – News18

Last Updated:February 26, 2025, 19:31 IST

The policy preserves the existing exam structure while allowing students a second attempt to improve their scores. Students can appear for the second exam in as many subjects as they choose, the CBSE Chairman said

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday recommended two board exams for class 10 students from the academic year 2026. It released the draft norms for the same on the official website and invited stakeholders and the public to give their suggestions. CBSE Chairperson, Rahul Singh has announced that the draft policy aligns with NEP 2020 recommendations.

The policy preserves the existing exam structure while allowing students a second attempt to improve their scores. Students can appear for the second exam in as many subjects as they want to, Singh said.

The current system offers 16 academic subjects, 23 skill subjects, and 45 languages in classes 9 and 10. Students can choose two languages and three electives from the academic subjects, along with a skill subject and an additional language, totaling a maximum of seven subjects in Class 10. This structure remains unchanged for the 2026 board exams, the Chairman added.

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“Accordingly, a student can offer a maximum of 7 subjects in Class X. This scheme of subjects and the choices shall remain unchanged for the 2026 board examinations as well. Thus, the same set of academic subjects; languages; and skill subjects, shall continue for the 2026 board examinations,” Singh said.

“The major departure from the current dispensation of conduct of examinations would be that examinations of some subjects are proposed to be conducted two to three times so that choices of the subjects offered by students can be accommodated. This would reduce the duration of examinations,” the Chairman added.

Candidates with special needs will also continue to avail of the same facilities as extended presently. Similarly, any relaxation extended to any institution presently will continue, he said.

All stakeholders including schools, teachers, parents, students, and others can check the draft policy on the CBSE website, cbse.gov.in. Stakeholders may share their feedback by March 9, 2025, following which “the responses would be scrutinised and policy be finalised.”