Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has hailed CBSE's decision to conduct class 10 exams twice a year as a "much-needed step". He said it would reduce stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced that from 2026, class 10 students will be able to take board exams twice in an academic session, but it will be mandatory for them to appear for the first phase in February.
The second phase, scheduled in May, will be optional for students who wish to improve their performance. In case a student appears for both phases, the best score of the two will be retained.
CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj informed that this decision will help in reducing the exam pressure on students.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the decision is in the interest of students.
"Laudable and a much-needed step. This will reduce exam stress, provide more flexibility and foster a joyful learning environment. A key recommendation of NEP 2020, twice-a-year exams is a student-centric approach and also aligns with global education practices," Pradhan wrote on X.
CBSE has clarified that permission to appear in the second examination will be given only to those students feel the need to improve their performance in a maximum of three subjects. If a student is absent in more than three subjects in the first examination, he will not be allowed to appear in the May examination. Internal assessment will be done only once in the whole year.
This step of CBSE is in line with the new education policy, which emphasizes on the overall development of students and reducing mental pressure. The facility of taking the exam twice will not only give self-satisfaction to the students, but they will also be able to improve their performance. This arrangement is being considered a positive effort towards making the board examination more flexible and in the interest of the students.
According to Ministry of Education officials, it is a landmark shift towards competency-based assessments that value understanding over rote learning.
"A major reform under NEP empowers students with choice, confidence, and second chances, reflecting NEP 2020's vision of a more inclusive, learner-centric education system based on joyful curiosity," a senior ministry official said.