Mixed response to CBSE proposal

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently released a draft policy wherein it proposed that beginning 2026, the students of Class X could choose when they wanted to appear in board exams between two slots — the first from February 17 to March 6 and the second from May 5 to May 20. Parents, students and academicians have aired mixed responses over the proposal.

The national education board also collected public feedback on its proposal that the students could also opt to appear in both the examinations if they wanted, giving them two chances, and their best score would be counted.

Dharamvir Singh, former principal of Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School, who also remained the chairman of the Amritsar Sahodaya Schools Complex, under which all CBSE schools of the district fall, said, “The introduction of a two-exam system for board classes could lead to a greater burden on resources, viz teachers, evaluation staff, and infrastructure. Although, it would reduce stress and anxiety among students, especially the average scorers.”

A class XI student, Drishti, said, “An academic year lasts from April 1 to March 31 in any school. In case the students opt for the second attempt, which will be conducted from May 5 to May 20, it will delay admissions to the next class by about three months, as the result would likely be declared by June 30. This will have a negative impact on the preparations for students. If a student opts for both exams, then it will add to the exam stress and prolong study hours. Opting for the first exam in February will not bring any change for the students, who already would have sat for house tests in December.”

Students of Class IX have been told that registrations for the Class 10 board exams for 2026 would be completed by September this year, wherein they would have to opt between appearing for the first, second or both exams.

A mother and educator, Dr Manisha Behal, said her daughter passed out of Class X from a CBSE school last year. She observed that prolonged study hours reflected in her daughter’s health, diminishing her weight and making her reticent and introverted. She became an introvert due to the laborious study hours. As she found that her concentration was best at night, when there was no distraction. She slept during the day, which upset her natural sleep cycle. She added that a window of opportunity was needed to reduce the stress levels among students during exams throughout the year.

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