CBSE Date Sheet 2026 Released for Class 10, 12; Exams from February 17

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the tentative date sheet for Class 10 and 12 Board Exams 2026 on its official website cbse.nic.in. The exams will begin on February 17, 2026, and will be held in the traditional pen-and-paper mode.

CBSE Class 10 Exam Date Sheet 2026

For the first time, Class 10 exams will follow a two-phase structure. The first phase is mandatory for all students, while the second phase will be optional. Students can retain their best scores from either session.

Phase 1 (Mandatory): February 17 – March 9, 2026

The first session will cover all major and minor subjects.

Phase 2 (Optional): May 15 – June 1, 2026

The second session will be limited to Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and Languages. During this phase, the compartment exams will also be conducted for students who do not clear the first session. This dual format is aimed at reducing exam stress and providing an additional opportunity to improve performance.

CBSE Class 12 Exam Date Sheet 2026

Unlike Class 10, the Class 12 exams will be conducted only once. The schedule is as follows:

• Exam dates: February 17 – April 9, 2026
• Mode: Offline (pen-and-paper)

This single-phase schedule is expected to streamline the evaluation process and ensure timely results for Class 12 students.

Final Date Sheet to Be Released in November

The current schedule is tentative. The final CBSE Date Sheet 2026 will be published after schools submit the final list of candidates, expected by the second week of November 2025.