Published on September 28, 2025, at 4:15 PM IST.
Delhi, India
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out a game-changing dual-exam system for the Class 10 Board Exams 2026, offering students two shots at success within the same academic year. With Exam 1 scheduled from February 17 to March 9, 2026, and Exam 2 from May 15 to June 1, 2026, this innovative approach aims to reduce stress and boost flexibility. Released 146 days in advance, the detailed date sheets cover 204 subjects for an estimated 45 lakh students across Classes 10 and 12. Get ready to plan your prep with precision!
Key Points:
- Dual-Exam Innovation: Exam 1 in Feb–Mar; Exam 2 in May–Jun for a second chance.
- Early Release: Timetable announced five months ahead for better preparation.
- Massive Scale: ~45 lakh students, 204 subjects across Classes 10 and 12.
Exam 1 (February–March 2026): Detailed Schedule
Exam 1 kicks off on February 17, 2026, with Mathematics Standard and Mathematics Basic, wrapping up on March 9, 2026, with subjects like Telugu, Arabic, and Carnatic Music. Most exams run from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, with select skill-based papers ending at 12:30 PM. Here’s the full timetable:
| Date | Time | Subject Code | Subject Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 041, 241 | Mathematics Standard, Mathematics Basic |
| Feb 18 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM | 401–422 | Retail, Security, Automotive, Financial Markets, Tourism, Agriculture, Food Production, Front Office, Banking & Insurance, Health Care, Apparel, Multi-Media, Data Science, Electronics & Hardware, Foundation Skill for Sciences, Design Thinking & Innovation |
| Feb 20 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM | 407, 412, 416, 418 | Beauty & Wellness, Marketing & Sales, Multi Skill Foundation Course, Physical Activity Trainer |
| Feb 21 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 101, 184 | English (Communicative), English (Language & Literature) |
| Feb 23 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 018 | French |
| Feb 24 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 003–303 | Urdu Course-A, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Manipuri, Telugu–Telangana |
| Feb 25 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 086 | Science |
| Feb 26 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 064 | Home Science |
| Feb 27 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM | 165, 402, 417 | Computer Applications, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence |
| Feb 28 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 119–303 | Sanskrit (Communicative), Sanskrit, Rai, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa, Urdu Course-B |
| Mar 2 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 002, 085 | Hindi Course-A, Hindi Course-B |
| Mar 3 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 017–154 | Tibetan, German, National Cadet Corps, Bhoti, Bodo, Tangkhul, Japanese, Bhutia, Spanish, Kashmiri, Mizo, Bahasa Melayu, Elements of Business, Elements of Book Keeping & Accountancy |
| Mar 5 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 049 | Painting |
| Mar 6 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 008–091 | Sindhi, Malayalam, Odia, Assamese, Kannada, Kokborok |
| Mar 7 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 087 | Social Science |
| Mar 9 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 007–136 | Telugu, Arabic, Russian, Persian, Nepali, Limbo, Lepcha, Carnatic Music (Vocal, Mel. Ins., Per. Ins.), Hindustani Music (Vocal, Mel. Ins., Per. Ins.), Thai |
Key Points:
- Start and End: February 17 (Math) to March 9 (Telugu, Music, etc.).
- Duration: Most exams 3 hours (10:30 AM–1:30 PM); skill-based papers 2 hours (10:30 AM–12:30 PM).
- Core Subjects: Math, Science, Social Science, English, Hindi spread across Feb 17–Mar 7.
Exam 2 (May–June 2026): Second Chance Schedule
Exam 2 offers a lifeline for students seeking to improve scores, running from May 15 to June 1, 2026. It focuses on core subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, alongside compartment exams and languages. Specific dates for compartment subjects and languages are yet to be detailed, but here’s the confirmed timetable:
| Date | Time | Subject Code | Subject Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 041, 241 | Mathematics Standard, Mathematics Basic |
| May 16 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 18 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 19 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 086 | Science |
| May 20 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 21 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 22 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | 087 | Social Science |
| May 23 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 25 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 26 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Language |
| May 28 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| May 29 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
| Jun 1 | 10:30 AM–1:30 PM | – | Compartment Subjects |
Key Points:
- Core Focus: Math (May 15), Science (May 19), Social Science (May 22); others for compartment/language.
- Flexible Retake: Best score from Exam 1 or 2 counts for results.
- Evaluation Timeline: Starts ~10 days post-exam, concludes within 12 days (e.g., Feb 20 exam evaluated by Mar 3–15).
Why the Dual-Exam System Rocks
Introduced to ease academic pressure, the two-exam system lets students attempt boards twice in one year, with the best score counting. This aligns with CBSE’s vision to make assessments more student-friendly, reducing the fear of a single high-stakes exam. However, concerns linger about tight gaps between key papers in Exam 1 (e.g., Science on Feb 25, Social Science on Mar 7), prompting students to strategize prep early.
Key Points:
- Stress Relief: Two attempts reduce pressure; best score counts.
- Quick Results: Evaluation completes within 12 days per subject.
- Scheduling Concerns: Tight gaps in Exam 1 require smart time management.
