The Central Board of Secondary Education has announced important updates for the CBSE Class 10 board exams 2026. As per the new guidelines, sectional divisions will be introduced in the Science and Social Science question papers. These changes will apply from the upcoming board exams beginning on February 17, 2026.
The board aims to improve the quality of evaluation and bring more clarity to the answer-writing process. CBSE will also release revised sample papers soon. These sample papers will help students understand the new exam structure and prepare accordingly.
CBSE 2026 Updated Rules for Class 10 Papers
Class 10 students appearing in 2026 must follow the updated instructions issued by CBSE. These rules ensure standardisation in answer presentation and help avoid loss of marks due to format-related errors.
Important points include:
- Social Science question paper will have four sections, while the Science paper will have three sections.
- Students must write answers only in the space provided in the answer sheets.
- No mixing of answers from different sections is allowed.
- If answers from one section appear under another, marks will be deducted.
- Under the new format, 50% of the questions will be competency-based, evaluating logical and conceptual skills.
- The remaining questions will be constructive response-based.
Section-Wise CBSE 2026 Paper Structure
The board has clearly defined the sections students must follow while writing their answers.
Science Question Paper
- Section A – Biology
- Section B – Chemistry
- Section C – Physics
Social Science Question Paper
- Section A – History
- Section B – Geography
- Section C – Political Science
- Section D – Economics
What Students Should Keep in Mind?
Students preparing for the Class 10 CBSE Board Exam 2026 must follow the new rules strictly. Writing answers in the correct section is essential to avoid losing marks. Understanding the sectional format early will help students practise better and score higher.
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