Wed Jun 25 10:53:05 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in India has approved new norms to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year, starting from the academic year 2026-27. This decision follows recommendations from the New Education Policy (NEP) to reduce the high-stakes pressure associated with traditional exams. The main exam will be held in February, with results in April. A second, optional “improvement exam” will be held in May for students seeking to better their scores in up to three subjects. Internal assessments will be conducted only once. Students in winter-bound schools can choose which phase to take the exams.

**News Article:**

**CBSE to Implement Twice-Yearly Class 10 Board Exams Starting 2026**

**New Delhi, June 25, 2025:** In a significant shift in the Indian education landscape, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially approved a plan to conduct Class 10 board exams twice annually, beginning with the academic year 2026-27. The move, announced today by Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, is a direct response to recommendations outlined in the New Education Policy (NEP).

The NEP aims to alleviate the “high-stakes” environment surrounding traditional board exams. Under the new system, all Class 10 students will participate in a primary examination held mid-February, with results to be released in April. Following this, a second, optional “improvement exam” will be offered in May, allowing students to enhance their scores in up to three subjects: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and two languages. Results for the second exam will be available in June.

“This additional opportunity is designed to provide students with a chance to showcase their learning and reduce exam-related stress,” explained Bhardwaj. Internal assessments, however, will continue to be conducted only once.

Recognizing the unique circumstances of schools located in winter-bound regions, the CBSE has stipulated that students from these institutions will have the flexibility to choose which of the two exam phases they wish to participate in.

The draft norms for this system were initially released in February, inviting feedback from stakeholders. The decision to implement twice-yearly exams represents a major overhaul of the Class 10 assessment process, with the CBSE aiming to foster a more holistic and less stressful learning environment for students.

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