CBSE 12th Exam 2025-26: In a recent notice dated September 4, 2025, Central Board of Secondary Education has removed the additional subject option for the passed out Class 12 students from the academic year 2025-26. Earlier, students were allowed to appear for an additional subject as private candidates in the board exams after they had passed the CBSE 2025-26 class 12 exams. The sudden removal of the provision of “additional subjects” has left students in mental distress as it has hampered their long term study plans.
For many students, appearing in CBSE Class 12 exam 2026 additional subjects like Mathematics and Biology was the last option for appearing in national level entrance exams like JEE Main or NEET UG. With the sudden change introduced by CBSE, the long term career plans of these students have been disrupted. Many of them have already enrolled in the expensive coaching institutes for their future goals.
With the removal of the additional subject in CBSE 2026 board exams for class 12 has also affected the students who passed their Senior Secondary exams but received an RT (Repeat in Theory) in a main subject in 2024 or 2025. The CBSE additional exam class 12 was the only chance for them to clear their theory paper. The mid-session change, without any prior notice, has left thousands of students helpless and uncertain about their future.
What is the Additional Subject Option in CBSE board exams?
CBSE had given a chance to the passed-out students of class 12 to appear for an additional subject as a private student. This provision was availed specially by those students who wanted to change their career path after passing out from their schools. They studied the additional subjects privately and appeared for the board exam of that additional subject in a year or two after their regular CBSE exams.
CBSE 12th Exam 2025-26: Removal of the Additional Subject
On September 4, 2025, CBSE released the exam form notice for the private students on its official website, cbse.gov.in. Candidates who appeared in CBSE 12th exam 2024 and 2025 can no longer apply for the additional subject in the examination year 2025-26. Additionally, CBSE had not informed the students about this sudden change with any prior notice.
Students now demand immediate reinstatement of the additional subject exam in the upcoming board exams (2025-26). They are also of the opinion that CBSE must inform students about major reforms in the board exam before the start of the new academic year, as these changes were announced in the mid-academic year.
