The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the tentative schedule for the Board Examinations of Classes X and XII for the academic session 2026.
Vide Circular No. F.31/CBSE/SPPS/2025, dated 24.09.2025, the Board has notified all affiliated schools that the examinations will commence from February 17, 2026. This early announcement aims to facilitate effective planning for students, teachers, and schools.
Below, we break down the key dates and the types of examinations scheduled.
Key Highlights of the Exam Schedule
For quick reference, here are the official details extracted from the notification.
| Detail | Information |
| Board | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Classes | Class 10th & Class 12th |
| Exam Start Date | 17th February 2026 |
| Exam End Date | 15th July 2026 |
| Notification Date | September 24, 2025 |
Examination Categories
The Board has clarified that the exam window (Feb 17 – July 15) will cover multiple categories of assessments:
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Main Examinations: For Classes X and XII.
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Sports Students: Special exams for Class XII sports students.
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Second Board Examinations: For Class X.
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Supplementary Examinations: For Class XII.
Scale of Operations: In 2026, approximately 45 lakh candidates are expected to appear in 204 subjects across India and 26 countries abroad.
Why Release a Tentative Schedule Now?
CBSE has decided to release these tentative dates early based on the registration data of Class IX and XI from 2025. The Board outlined three main benefits for this initiative:
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For Students: To help them prepare structured study plans to enhance their performance.
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For Schools: To allow schools to align their academic and administrative activities, including teacher deployment for exam duties.
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For Teachers: To enable teachers to plan their personal schedules and vacations with greater clarity.
Conclusion
With the exam window officially set to open on February 17, 2026, students of Class 10 and 12 should now shift their focus towards finalizing their preparation strategies. Schools are advised to download the detailed subject-wise tentative datesheet once it is fully available on the official website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When do CBSE Board Exams 2026 start?
The exams are scheduled to commence on 17th February 2026.
2. Is this the final datesheet?
The circular refers to these as “Tentative Date Sheets” to facilitate planning. The final subject-wise breakdown is usually confirmed closer to the exams.
3. Does this apply to Class 10th and 12th both?
Yes, the schedule applies to Main Examinations for both Classes X and XII.
4. What is the “Second Board Examination” mentioned?
The circular lists “Second Board Examinations – Class X” as part of the schedule between Feb and July, indicating a provision for a second attempt or term assessment as per new policies.
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