The central government is contemplating the introduction of a second board examination for Class 12 students studying under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as recommended by the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). This change, slated for implementation from June 2026, was reported by The Indian Express.
Currently, CBSE Class 12 students appear for a single board exam annually, conducted in February-March, with results typically announced in May. If students do not achieve the desired scores, they have the opportunity to sit for "supplementary exams" in one subject, held in July. This year, these exams took place on July 15.
The proposed change aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for reducing the pressure of high-stakes exams and vast syllabi. The NEP 2020 recommends a shift towards biannual board exams to alleviate student stress. In response, the education ministry has requested the CBSE to draft a proposal for holding two board exams annually for Class 12 students, starting from 2026, according to The Indian Express.
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Under this new system, the first board exam would continue to be held in February-March, with the second exam scheduled for June. Additionally, Class 12 students would have the option to appear for "supplementary exams" or "improvement exams" in any or all subjects, as opposed to the current option of retaking only one subject.
The CBSE would require approximately 15 days to conduct the second set of board exams and around a month to declare the results. Therefore, if the exams are conducted in June, results would likely be announced in August. Considering the timeline for entrance examinations and the workload on teachers for marking, the government has recommended that the first board exam should not be held before February. The Centre also anticipates that not all students will opt to take the second board exams, thereby reducing the evaluation burden on teachers.
