The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the final date sheet for the Class 10 and 12 board examinations for the academic year 2025-26. Scheduled to begin from February 17, 2026, this early release of the timetable aims to provide students, parents, and educators sufficient time to prepare and plan for the exams efficiently.
In a first, the board had shared a tentative date sheet based on Class 9 and 11 registration data on September 24, 2025—146 days ahead of the exams—to help stakeholders organize studies and logistics well in advance. The final date sheet, available around 110 days before the start of exams, factors in all subject combinations to prevent clashes, with exams beginning at 10:30 a.m. across centers nationwide.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Examination Schedule
The exams for both Classes 10 and 12 will strictly follow the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. For Class 10, two board examinations will be conducted each academic year starting from 2026.
Adequate gaps between consecutive exams are ensured to allow students ample time for revision and better management of exam stress.
The schedule considers the dates of major entrance tests like the JEE Main, helping students avoid overlapping exam dates. Schools will provide Class 11 registration numbers to students applying for JEE Main to assist in smooth coordination with the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Over 40,000 subject combinations have been accounted for, ensuring no student faces a clash of two subjects on the same day.
Teachers’ availability for evaluation has been considered by avoiding long simultaneous absences from schools during assessments.
How Students Can Access the Date Sheet
Students and schools can download the complete CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exam date sheet 2026 directly from the official CBSE website at cbse.gov.in. This early access to the schedule will support better preparation strategies, including time management and revision planning.
Importance of Early Planning
The early release of the date sheet is a significant step towards easing exam-related anxiety by providing a clear roadmap well ahead of time. It also helps parents and schools arrange vacations and other logistical details without last-minute disruptions. With both board and competitive exams carefully scheduled, students can now manage their academic commitments confidently and efficiently.
