The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the final datesheet for the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations for the academic session 2025–26. According to the notification, the board exams will commence from February 17, 2026, and will continue until March 9, 2026, for Class 10, and April 4, 2026, for Class 12. The detailed timetable is available on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.
This year’s datesheet has been released well in advance, nearly 110 days before the commencement of exams. CBSE stated that the early release aims to give students sufficient time for systematic preparation and revision. The board has also ensured that the schedule provides adequate gaps between major subjects, enabling students to manage their study plans effectively.
The Class 10 board exams will be conducted from February 17 to March 9, 2026, with major subjects like English, Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Hindi spaced strategically to allow better preparation time. Meanwhile, the Class 12 exams will be held from February 17 to April 4, 2026, covering streams such as Science, Commerce, and Humanities. The examinations will be conducted in pen-and-paper mode in a single shift — starting at 10:30 a.m. and concluding at 1:30 p.m.
CBSE officials also highlighted that practical examinations and internal assessments will begin earlier, particularly for schools in winter-bound regions, where practicals are likely to start in January 2026. Schools following the regular calendar will conduct practicals shortly before the written exams.
The board emphasized that the 2026 examination schedule was carefully designed to avoid clashes with national-level entrance tests such as JEE and NEET. This ensures that students appearing for multiple competitive exams can plan their study and travel schedules without unnecessary stress. Furthermore, the board reiterated that the List of Candidates (LOC) submission, internal assessments, and project work should be completed well before the exam dates to avoid discrepancies.
CBSE has also reminded schools and parents to check all student details such as name, subjects, and date of birth while submitting exam forms. Any error in these details could lead to issues during the issuance of admit cards or declaration of results. Students are advised to download the official PDF of the datesheet from the CBSE website and verify the timings and subject codes carefully.
This year, the board has also continued its focus on providing two-phase opportunities for Class 10 students, ensuring that those who miss or fail in the first phase can reappear without losing an entire academic year. This flexibility reflects CBSE’s ongoing efforts to make the examination process more student-friendly and inclusive.
The early release of the CBSE 2026 datesheet has been widely appreciated by schools and education experts. It allows both students and institutions to structure their academic calendars, revision schedules, and pre-board exams accordingly. For parents, this early notice helps in managing logistics, travel plans, and exam preparation environments at home.
The official CBSE statement reads, “The schedule has been carefully planned to provide sufficient gaps between exams of important subjects and to align with various entrance examinations, ensuring minimal overlap.” The CBSE has also cautioned students to rely only on official communication and the verified document available on its website.
The detailed CBSE Datesheet 2026 for both Class 10 and Class 12 can be accessed and downloaded from the official website cbse.gov.in. Students are encouraged to keep a printed copy of the schedule for reference and adhere strictly to the guidelines mentioned by the board.