June 25, 2025 — In a significant reform to the Indian school examination system, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that Class 10 board exams will be conducted twice a year starting from the academic session 2025–26. The decision is part of the ongoing implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for flexibility and reduced academic pressure on students.
According to CBSE officials, students will have the option to appear in both exams, with the second session being completely optional. The better score out of the two attempts will be considered final for the purpose of certification.
The first examination session will be conducted in March, as per the traditional schedule, while the second session will take place in May. This structure will allow students a chance to improve their performance without being penalized for their first attempt.
“This is a student-centric move that offers flexibility and more opportunities to succeed,” a senior Ministry of Education official said. “It will also help reduce the high-stakes nature of a single annual exam, which has long been a source of stress for students and parents alike.”
The new examination format will be introduced for the students currently in Class 9, who will write their Class 10 exams in 2026. A similar two-exam format is also under consideration for Class 12 students, though no official timeline has been announced for that as yet.
Education experts have welcomed the move, calling it a step forward in aligning the Indian school system with global practices. “The option to improve scores without repeating an entire year will provide psychological relief to students,” said Dr. Meera Raghavan, an education policy analyst. “However, careful implementation will be key to ensuring that it doesn’t lead to more pressure or confusion.”
CBSE is expected to issue detailed guidelines on the exam format, syllabus division, and result computation in the coming months. Schools have been advised to prepare accordingly for the new structure.
The decision follows earlier changes introduced by the board, including a revised assessment framework focusing more on competency-based questions and critical thinking.
With this change, CBSE aims to not only improve academic outcomes but also make the examination process more student-friendly and in tune with modern pedagogical standards.
