Centre Eyes Second CBSE Board Exam For Class 12: What You Need to Know

The Centre is expected to decide soon on introducing a second board exam for CBSE Class 12 students starting from 2026, as per a report. The proposal aims to align with recommendations from the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), as reported by The Indian Express.

Currently, CBSE Class 12 students appear for a single board exam annually in February-March, with results typically announced in May. In cases where students do not achieve desired results, they can opt for supplementary exams for one subject in July. This year, these supplementary exams took place on July 15.

The new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes reducing the burden of high-stakes exams with extensive syllabi, proposing biannual board exams to ease student pressure. In line with NEP 2020, the Ministry of Education has requested CBSE to draft a plan for conducting two board exams per year for Class 12 students starting 2026, according to The Indian Express.

Under this proposed system, the first board exam would likely take place in February-March, with the second set for June. Additionally, students may have the option to take supplementary or improvement exams for any or all subjects, unlike the current provision limited to one subject.

CBSE estimates that the second set of board exams would require approximately 15 days for conducting and a month for result declaration, suggesting results could be expected by August if exams are held in June.

To accommodate this schedule and ease the workload on teachers for evaluation, the government recommends that the first board exam not be scheduled before February. It anticipates that not all students will opt for the second board exams, thus reducing the evaluation workload.

The NCFSE, aligned with NEP 2020, advocates for biannual board exams, allowing students to improve their scores. It also proposes future possibilities for subject-specific board exams immediately after the school term, reflecting a shift towards more flexible assessment practices.