West Bengal Class 12 Board Exams 2026 Begin; Phone Ban Warning Issued

The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has commenced the Class 12 (Higher Secondary) board examinations 2026 from February 12, 2026, across 2,103 exam centres throughout the state. The exams are scheduled to continue until February 27, 2026 in pen-and-paper mode. This year’s board exams feature a semester-based format with students appearing for Semester 4 tests, Semester 3 supplementary examinations and a few older annual system papers. A total of approximately 7,10,811 candidates — including 3,95,079 girls and 3,15,732 boys — are registered to appear for the exams.

Strict Rules on Electronic Devices

WBCHSE has issued a stern warning to students: carrying mobile phones, calculators or any electronic gadgets into exam halls will lead to cancellation of the student’s entire examination year.

To enforce this rule:

• Students will be frisked with hand-held metal detectors before entering the examination venue.
• Mobile phones and electronic gadgets are completely banned for candidates appearing under Semester 4 and Semester 3 examinations.
• Only students taking papers under the old annual system are permitted to use approved calculators.

Exam Session Details

• Semester 4 tests: Scheduled from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
• Semester 3 supplementary exams: Held from 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM
• Old annual system papers: Conducted from 10:00 AM to 1:15 PM

In Semester 4 papers, most question papers include a mix of question formats where candidates must carefully read and select the appropriate answers from given options to maximize scores.

Student Concerns and Official Response

Some students have expressed concerns over limited preparation time, especially in subjects like Chemistry, given that study materials were received relatively recently in January. Parents have echoed similar issues, noting accelerated timelines and pressures on students. WBCHSE President Chiranjib Bhattacharya acknowledged that the exams were scheduled earlier due to administrative reasons, but confirmed that study materials were provided on time, despite slight delays in distribution for some Semester 3 subjects.

What Students Should Carry?

Candidates must carry:

• Valid admit card/hall ticket
• School ID or valid photo identification
• Only permitted stationery (pens, pencils)

Strict adherence to exam instructions and rules is expected to ensure smooth conduct and maintain the integrity of the evaluation process. The WBCHSE exams 2026 mark another academic milestone for students in West Bengal under a renewed semester-based evaluation system.