Published on October 30 , 2025
Contents
Delhi, India
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially unveiled the final date sheet for the 2026 board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 on October 30, 2025, marking a historic early release nearly 110 days in advance. This move, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, allows ample time for students, parents, and schools to plan revisions, vacations, and logistics, while introducing biannual exams for Class 10 starting 2026. With no major changes from the tentative September schedule, the exams emphasize a single morning shift and balanced gaps between core subjects for stress-free preparation.
Release and Access Details
- Announcement Date: October 30, 2025, via CBSE circular, based on timely List of Candidates (LOC) submissions from schools.
- Download Link: Official PDF available at cbse.gov.in: CBSE_DATE_SHEET_X_XII_Final_30102025.pdf.
- Key Innovation: First-ever final sheet 110 days early, aiding summer planning; Class 10 now features two exam phases annually per NEP 2020.
- Admit Cards: Expected in early February 2026 on cbse.gov.in—carry to exam centers with ID proof.
Exam Overview
- Class 10 Schedule: February 17 to March 10, 2026 (Phase 1); single shift, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM (2-hour papers) or 1:30 PM (3-hour papers).
- Class 12 Schedule: February 17 to April 9, 2026; single shift, primarily 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM for most subjects.
- Total Coverage: Over 40 lakh students expected; focuses on core academics, languages, and vocational streams with no overlaps for major subjects like Math, Science, English.
- Format Notes: Bilingual question papers; adequate gaps (2-3 days) between high-stakes exams like Physics and Chemistry.
| Aspect | Class 10 | Class 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | February 17, 2026 | February 17, 2026 |
| End Date | March 10, 2026 | April 9, 2026 |
| Duration per Paper | 2-3 hours | 3 hours (majority) |
| Shifts | Single (Morning) | Single (Morning) |
| Attendance Requirement | Minimum 75% for eligibility | Minimum 75% for eligibility |
Class 10: Key Subject Schedule Highlights
Exams span core subjects, languages, and skill-based vocational options. Below are major dates—full list in official PDF.
- February 17: Mathematics Standard/Basic (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 18: Vocational streams (Retail, Security, Automotive, etc., 10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 21: English (Communicative/Language & Literature, 10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 25: Science (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 26: Home Science (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 27: Computer Applications/IT/Artificial Intelligence (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 2: Hindi Course A/B (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 7: Social Science (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 9-10: Regional languages and electives (Telugu, Arabic, French, etc., 10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- Gaps for Prep: 3-4 days between English-Science and Hindi-Social Science for focused revision.
Class 12: Key Subject Schedule Highlights
A longer timeline accommodates diverse streams (Science, Commerce, Humanities, Vocational). Highlights include:
- February 17: Biotechnology/Entrepreneurship/Shorthand (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 18: Physical Education (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 20: Physics (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 21: Business Studies/Administration (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 26: Geography (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- February 28: Chemistry (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 3: Legal Studies (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 5: Psychology (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 9: Mathematics/Applied Mathematics (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 12: English Elective/Core (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 16: Hindi Elective/Core (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 18: Economics (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 23: Political Science (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 25: Informatics Practices/Computer Science/IT (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 27: Biology (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 28: Accountancy (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- March 30: History (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- April 4: Sociology (10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- April 6-9: Specialized electives (Knowledge Traditions, Web Application, Sanskrit Core, Multi-Media, etc., 10:30 AM-1:30 PM).
- Gaps for Prep: 2 days between Physics-Chemistry; 4-5 days for Commerce subjects like Accountancy-Business Studies.
Preparation Guidelines and Tips
- Eligibility: 75% attendance mandatory; practicals/internal assessments must be completed prior.
- JEE Alignment: Schools to provide Class 11 registration numbers for JEE Main applicants to avoid overlaps.
- Best Practices: Create a reverse timeline from dates; prioritize high-weightage subjects; practice with sample papers from cbseacademic.nic.in.
- Support Resources: Mock tests via CBSE portal; counseling for stress management—exams promote holistic evaluation per NEP.
- No Revisions Expected: Final sheet locked; focus on syllabus completion by January 2026.
