July 23, 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now allow students to appear for the 10th Exam twice a year from next year (2026). The initial examination will take place in mid-February, which will be compulsory for all students, and the subsequent examination will be held in May, which will be optional for those students who seek to enhance their performance.
According to the new framework, all passed students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages. The results for the two phases will be announced in April and June, respectively.
A sports student will be allowed to appear in the second exam in those subjects whose exams coincide with his sports event. Internal assessment will be done only once before the main exam.
This new initiative was modelled in accordance with the NEP 2020, which advocates for the alleviation of exam-related stress by providing students with a second opportunity within the same academic year.
The Union Education Minister lauded this as a much-needed step and said it will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility, and foster a joyful learning environment. The Union Minister also noted that this was a key recommendation of the National Education Policy 2020, as twice-a-year exams are a student-centric approach, aligning with global education practices.
