New Delhi: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has defended the CBSE’s new plan to conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting 2026, stating that the reform is designed to reduce stress among students and not dilute the academic process.
Speaking at the ABP News Education Conclave, Pradhan said, “India has over 60 school boards, and there has never been any concern about their competency. The examination structure is not putting pressure on the education system. The decision to conduct board exams twice a year is not to dilute the process, but to reduce stress among students.”
He highlighted that the concept follows the model used by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for JEE, where students get two attempts annually and can retain the best score. “Building on this idea, we are introducing a similar approach for Class 10 board exams. Students will have the option to appear for the board exam twice a year and retain their best score,” the Minister added.
As per the proposed schedule, the Class 10 board exams in 2026 for 26.6 lakh students across 84 subjects will be held in two phases over 34 days — the first phase from February 17 to March 6, and the second phase from May 5 to May 20.
