New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma)– The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has revised its examination rules, eliminating the option for private students to take additional subjects in the Class 10 and 12 board exams from 2026.
Earlier, students who had already cleared their Class 10 or 12 examinations were allowed to appear again within two years as private candidates in order to add subjects that suited their higher education or career paths. This route was widely used by aspirants of professional courses like engineering and medicine, who needed subjects such as Mathematics or Biology to qualify for entrance exams.
The removal of this option has raised concerns among students, many of whom had already been preparing for upcoming exams with plans to take additional subjects. Several students expressed frustration that the rule change will shrink their academic choices and make it harder to meet eligibility criteria for competitive examinations like JEE and NEET.
The decision also impacts students in commerce and humanities streams who sought to add subjects such as history, geography, business studies, or accounts to strengthen their profiles. Following criticism, CBSE issued a public notice clarifying that regular students may still take up to two additional subjects in Class 10 and one in Class 12, provided they study them over a two-year period. However, schools lacking board approval, teachers, or facilities will not be able to offer these subjects.
With the application deadline for private students set for September 30, many have urged CBSE to reconsider the move, arguing that implementing such a major change so close to exam preparations is unfair.
