Government Mulls Second Annual Board Exam for Class 12 CBSE Students in June from 2026

New Delhi: The central government is reportedly planning to introduce a second board examination for Class 12 students in CBSE schools starting June 2026. This change is in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) and aims to alleviate the high-stakes nature of current exams.

Presently, Class 12 students under the CBSE curriculum appear for their board exams once a year, typically in February-March, with results declared in May. Students who wish to improve their scores can take supplementary exams for one subject in July, with this year's supplementary exams conducted on July 15.

The new proposal, inspired by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, suggests a shift to biannual board exams. This move aims to reduce the pressure on students by spreading out the examination load.

Following the NEP 2020 guidelines, the education ministry has instructed the CBSE to draft a plan for implementing two annual board exams for Class 12 students by 2026, according to a report by a news portal. The proposed system would hold the first exam in February-March and the second in June. Additionally, students may be given the option to appear for "supplementary exams" or "improvement exams" for multiple subjects, rather than just one.

The CBSE estimates that it would take about 15 days to conduct the second set of board exams and around a month to declare the results. If the exams are held in June, results would likely be announced in August.

To accommodate entrance examination schedules and reduce the burden on teachers, the government recommends that the first board exam should not be scheduled before February. It is also expected that not all students will opt for the second board exams, thus lightening the evaluation load on teachers.

The NCFSE, derived from the NEP 2020, advocates for students to have the opportunity to take board exams twice a year, with the best score being considered. The framework also envisions a future where students can take subject board examinations immediately after the school term, potentially on a semester-wise or on-demand basis.