Now board exams twice a year! Second board exam guidelines released for private students:

News India Live, Digital Desk: In a historic change under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has implemented the policy of conducting board examinations twice a year. From the academic session of 2026, class 10th students will now be able to appear for the examination twice a year. The Board has released the notification of ‘Second Board Examination’ especially for Private Candidates, which aims to improve the performance of the students and reduce the exam pressure.

What is the ‘two board exams’ policy and who will get the chance?

Under this new policy, the second board exam will be conducted in May 2026 after the main board exam. This can include those students who want to improve their performance or who have got compartment. Eligibility for private students is as follows:

Improvement Category: Students who have cleared the main examination can apply to improve their score in any three main subjects (Science, Mathematics, Social Science and Languages).

Compartment Category: Those who have got compartment in the main examination can also appear in this second examination.

Required condition: If a student has been absent in 3 or more subjects of the Main Examination, he/she will not be eligible for the Second Board Exam.

Important dates of application and fee details

The board has completely digitalized the application process. Students must note that no offline application will be accepted.

First Stage (Without Late Fee): From 16th April 2026 (12 noon) to 20th April 2026 (midnight).

Phase II (with late fee): From 21st April 2026 to 22nd April 2026.

Fees: In India it is fixed at Rs 320 per subject. The fee per subject will be Rs 1000 for Nepal and Rs 2000 for other countries. Additional Rs 2000 will have to be paid as late fee.

How to apply? It is mandatory to follow these rules

Private Candidates CBSE Official Website cbse.gov.in You can fill the form through ‘Private Candidates’ link. While filling the form the student has to upload his/her photo and signature (less than 40 KB, JPG format). Payment will be accepted only through online mode (Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card). The Board has clarified that once the fees are deposited, they will not be refunded under any circumstances and there will be no chance for correction in the data.

Common syllabus and fair assessment

The biggest question in the minds of students is regarding the syllabus. The board has made it clear that the syllabus and pattern of the second board exam will remain the same as that for the main exam (February-March). With this, students will not need to prepare separately. This step will prove to be a lifeline for those students who due to some reason could not give their best in the main examination. Experts believe that this change will reduce the fear of ‘failing’ among students and they will be able to take the exam with more confidence.