CBSE Announces Final Date Sheet for 2026 Class 10 and 12 Exams, Over 3 Months in Advance

New Delhi, October 30, 2025: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Thursday released the final date sheet for the 2026 board examinations for Classes X and XII, marking the first time the schedule has been announced over 100 days before the exams.

According to the official notification, both Class X and Class XII examinations will begin on February 17, 2026. The Class X exams will conclude on March 10, while Class XII exams will end on April 9, 2026. The exams will begin daily at 10:30 a.m.

The tentative date sheet had earlier been issued on September 24. CBSE said a sufficient gap has been provided between two subjects to help students manage their preparation effectively. The board also stated that the schedule was designed after considering the dates of major entrance examinations for Class XII students, ensuring minimal overlap and better time management for candidates appearing in both board and entrance exams.

A CBSE statement said, “The date of conduct of entrance examinations meant for the students of Class XII have been taken into consideration, and efforts have been made to complete the board examinations much before these entrance tests.”

The board added that the date sheet was prepared after avoiding more than 40,000 subject combinations to ensure that no student faces overlapping exam dates.

The early release of the schedule will allow schools designated as examination centres to plan logistics and academic activities in advance. CBSE also mentioned that to prevent overlap between JEE (Main) and board exams, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will require Class XI registration numbers in the JEE (Main) application form. Schools have been directed to provide these details to their students.

Earlier this year, CBSE announced that it would conduct two board examinations for Class X students annually to reduce exam pressure and provide better opportunities for improvement.