CBSE Board Exams 2026 Advisory: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released a significant advisory directed at schools, parents, and students in anticipation of the board examinations for classes 10 and 12, which are set to commence on February 17, 2026. This year, more than 46 lakh students are expected to take the exams across India and in 26 other countries. The examinations will start at 10:30 AM, and students are required to arrive at their designated examination centres by 10:00 AM.
The advisory mentions, “Considering the important national and international summits, high-level meetings, and various events scheduled during the examination period, traffic regulations may lead to congestion, route changes, and delays in several regions of the country.”
Additionally, it states, “All students are encouraged to leave home early to guarantee their timely arrival at the examination centre, in accordance with the guidelines provided by CBSE.”
The board has urged all students to plan their journeys by taking into account local conditions, traffic, weather, and distance, as entry to examination centres will only be permitted until 10:00 AM (IST).
All schools have been instructed to support and assist parents and students. Students are also recommended to visit their examination centres beforehand and organize their travel to ensure they arrive on time for all examination days.
To strengthen the examination process, CBSE has introduced three key initiatives for 2026:
- Second Board Examination for Class 10
- On-Screen Marking for Class 12
- Division of Science and Social Studies question papers for Class 10
The CBSE conducted a live webcast on Friday to clarify the procedures for the Board Examinations 2026, focusing on the guidelines and the newly implemented On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 assessments. This session was attended by principals, educators, and stakeholders from all over the nation.
Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj, the CBSE Controller of Examinations, provided detailed insights into the administration of the Class 10 and 12 examinations. He discussed the evaluation process, the advantages of digital assessment, the introduction of two board exams for Class 10, and the roles of parents during the examination period.
“This examination will assess our knowledge, preparedness, responsiveness, and decision-making. Hence, it is crucial for everyone to be thoroughly informed about the rules, policies, and SOPs,” Dr. Bhardwaj stated.
He underscored CBSE’s reform-oriented strategy, asserting, “Smart exam, smarter evaluation, naye Bharat ki pahchaan,” which emphasizes technology-driven processes, objective assessment methods, and efficient coordination to facilitate seamless examination management.
