The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the tentative date sheets for the upcoming board examinations for Classes X and XII for the year 2026. These exams are scheduled to be conducted from February 17, 2026, to July 15, 2026, with approximately 45 lakh candidates expected to appear across India and 26 countries abroad.
CBSE will conduct the following examinations during this period: Main Examinations for Classes X and XII, Examinations for Sports Students – Class XII, Second Board Examinations for Class X, and Supplementary Examinations for Class XII. The exams will encompass around 204 subjects across various streams, and the schedule has been planned to facilitate smooth conduct and evaluation.
CBSE Class X Exam Date Highlights
Check below the tentative dates for the Class X Main Examination 2026.
- Commences on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, with Mathematics Standard (Subject Code 041) and Mathematics Basic (241).
- The exams for the Main examination will be conducted from February 17 to March 9, 2026.
- Scheduled dates include subjects like English, Science, Social Science, and various vocational courses.
- The exams are typically from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM or 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM based on the subject.
- The second board exams for Class X are also scheduled subsequently in May 2026 for compartment subjects and improvement exams.
The release of tentative date sheets ahead of finalization enables students to prepare structured study plans to improve performance.
For your reference, also check: CBSE Class X Sample Papers
CBSE Class XII Exam Highlights
Given below are the tentative date highlights for the Class XII Main Examination 2026.
- Begins on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, with subjects including Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship, and Shorthand.
- The exams for the CBSE Class XII Main examination will be conducted from February 17 to April 9, 2026.
- Key academic subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Business Studies, and Mathematics will be held from February to March 2026.
- Vocational and dance/music subjects have dedicated exam slots as well.
- Supplementary exams are scheduled in May – June 2026 for Class XII students.
Morning sessions start at 10:30 AM and usually conclude by 1:30 PM; some vocational subjects have shorter durations until 12:30 PM. CBSE has informed that evaluation of answer scripts will start approximately 10 days after an exam and will be completed within 12 days to ensure prompt result declaration.
Also check: CBSE Class XII Sample Papers
According to the official notification, the final date sheets will be issued once the final list of candidates is received from schools. Appearing students can visit the official website for a detailed schedule and for timely updates.
