The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued fresh guidelines making 75% attendance mandatory for Class 10 and 12 students to appear in the 2026 board examinations. The move is aimed at curbing the rise of dummy schools and ensuring student participation in classroom learning.
Attendance Now Linked to Eligibility
The Board clarified that no student will be allowed to sit for the board exams without fulfilling academic and attendance requirements. CBSE highlighted that Class 10 and 12 exams are based on a two-year programme – covering Classes 9 and 10, and Classes 11 and 12 respectively. “Attendance is critical as internal assessment is an integral part of the evaluation process under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Without classroom engagement, internal assessments cannot be completed, and results cannot be declared,” CBSE said in its notification. Students failing to meet the attendance requirement will be placed in the Essential Repeat category, even if they are regular enrollees.
Warning to Schools on Unapproved Subjects
CBSE also issued a stern warning to affiliated schools against offering subjects without prior approval.
- In Class 10, students can opt for two additional subjects apart from the five compulsory ones.
- In Class 12, only one additional subject is permitted.
Schools lacking adequate infrastructure, laboratories, or faculty will not be allowed to register students for such subjects.
Crackdown on Dummy Schools
The fresh guidelines directly target dummy schools, which admit students only to provide board exam registration while they pursue coaching outside. These institutions often overlook attendance and internal assessment requirements. By enforcing the 75% attendance rule, CBSE aims to:
- Strengthen classroom participation.
- Reduce dependency on coaching centres.
- Ensure the credibility of internal assessments.
