CBSE Class 10 draft date sheet schedule 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a major change in the Class 10 board exams starting from 2026, offering students the opportunity to appear in two exams for better scores. The board has also released a draft schedule and guidelines, seeking feedback from stakeholders before finalizing the policy.
Under the new system, students can choose to appear for the exams once or both times. If they opt for a second attempt, they will have the flexibility to skip subjects in which they are satisfied with their earlier scores. The final marksheet will reflect the best scores obtained across both attempts.
According to CBSE’s proposed schedule, the first exam phase will be held from February 17 to March 6, 2026, while the second phase is scheduled from May 5 to May 20, 2026. This change significantly reduces the exam period from the current 32 days to about 16-18 days.
The results of the first exam are expected to be declared by April 20, 2026, while the second exam results will be announced by June 30, 2026.
CBSE Seeks Feedback on Policy Changes
CBSE has also invited public feedback on the proposed changes through a form available on its website. The deadline to submit responses is March 9, 2025. The board will scrutinize the responses before finalizing the policy.
Draft CBSE Class 10 Exam Date Sheet 2026
CBSE Class X First Exam Schedule (February 17 – March 6, 2026)
- February 17 (Tuesday): Mathematics
- February 19 (Thursday): Elective Subject
- February 21 (Saturday): Social Science
- February 23 (Monday): Elective Subject
- February 25 (Wednesday): Science
- February 27 (Friday): Hindi
- March 2 (Monday): English
- March 3 (Tuesday): Elective Subject
- March 6 (Friday): Languages (Last Exam)
CBSE Class X Second Exam Schedule 2026 Draft (May 5 – May 20, 2026)
- May 5 (Tuesday): Mathematics
- May 7 (Thursday): Elective Subject
- May 9 (Saturday): Social Science
- May 11 (Monday): Elective Subject
- May 13 (Wednesday): Science
- May 15 (Friday): Other Languages
- May 18 (Monday): English
- May 19 (Tuesday): Elective Subject
- May 21 (Thursday): Hindi
Impact on Students
With reduced gaps between exams, students may face a more intensive schedule compared to the current system, where breaks between subjects can range from five to ten days. The dual-exam format, however, provides an opportunity for students to improve their scores without having to wait an entire year.
As the policy is still in the draft stage, further refinements may be made based on stakeholder feedback before the final implementation.
