The central government is planning to introduce a second board examination for Class 12 students under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in June, starting from 2026. This recommendation comes from the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE), as reported by The Indian Express.
Current Exam System
At present, Class 12 students following the CBSE curriculum appear for their board exams once a year, typically in February-March. Results are usually declared in May. If students do not perform as expected, they can take “supplementary exams” for one subject in July. This year, these exams were held on July 15.
Changes Under NEP 2020
The new National Education Policy 2020 aims to move away from high-stakes exams with vast syllabuses towards biannual board exams, reducing pressure on students. In line with this policy, the education ministry has asked CBSE to prepare a proposal for holding two board exams each year from 2026.
Implementation Plan
The proposed system would have the first set of exams in February-March and the second in June. Students would also have the option to take “supplementary” or “improvement” exams for any or all subjects, rather than just one.
The CBSE estimates needing 15 days to conduct the second set of exams and about a month to declare the results. If the exams are held in June, results would likely be declared in August. To accommodate entrance exam schedules and reduce the marking load on teachers, the first board exam would not be held before February.
The NCFSE suggests that students should have the opportunity to appear for board exams twice a year, with the best score being considered. In the future, there could be options for “semester-wise” or “on-demand” board examinations.
This new exam system aims to provide students with more opportunities to improve their scores and reduce the pressure associated with high-stakes testing.
