CBSE shares key updates on Board Exams 2026 including digital evaluation new exam rules and strict guidelines for schools teachers and students.
The Central Board of Secondary Education conducted a live webcast on 13 February 2026 to brief schools, teachers, and exam officials about the conduct of CBSE Board Exams 2026.
The CBSE special webinar focused on new examination policies, evaluation reforms, and discipline-related guidelines to ensure that the upcoming Class 10 and Class 12 exams are conducted smoothly and fairly.
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The session was led by Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations, and opened with a keynote address by CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh (IAS). CBSE described the webinar as a crucial step to ensure clarity and coordination among all stakeholders ahead of the large-scale examinations.
Clear Focus on Exam Discipline and Student Conduct
CBSE strongly emphasized the importance of discipline during the board examinations. The Board urged parents to understand CBSE rules and guide their children to appear for exams honestly and without any form of malpractice. Students were advised to reach examination centres well on time and strictly follow instructions issued by invigilators and school authorities.
Dr Bhardwaj also warned against the growing influence of social media rumours and fake videos related to board exams. He advised students not to follow unverified information online and instead focus on self-study or consult their teachers for guidance. CBSE confirmed that it will actively monitor misleading online content and take strict action against those spreading false information, including legal action if required.
Massive Scale of CBSE Board Exams 2026
CBSE highlighted the enormous scale at which the 2026 board exams will be conducted. This year, around 46 lakh students from more than 31,000 CBSE-affiliated schools in India and 26 countries abroad will appear for the examinations. The exams will be held at over 8,000 centres worldwide.
Class 10 board exams will begin on 17 February 2026 and conclude on 11 March 2026. Class 12 exams will also start on 17 February and continue until 10 April 2026. For Class 12 alone, nearly 18.6 lakh students will appear, and more than 10 crore answer books will be evaluated.
Three Major Reforms Introduced for Board Exams 2026
CBSE announced three major changes aimed at improving examination quality and evaluation accuracy. First, Class 10 students will be allowed to appear in a second board examination, giving them an additional opportunity to improve performance.
Second, on-screen marking has been introduced for Class 12 answer sheets, marking a major shift towards digital evaluation. Third, CBSE has divided Science and Social Science question papers for Class 10 into subject-wise sections.
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The Board said these reforms are designed to reduce errors, improve subject-specific evaluation, and make the overall examination system more efficient and student-friendly.
On-Screen Marking for Class 12: How It Will Work
Under the new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, Class 12 answer sheets will be scanned and evaluated digitally by trained teachers on computers. CBSE explained that this system removes manual totalling and posting errors and ensures greater accuracy in marking.
Teachers from Classes 10 and 12 will be deployed for digital evaluation, and CBSE will provide proper training before the evaluation process begins.
The Board confirmed that post-exam verification of marks for Class 12 has been discontinued, as digital evaluation already ensures error-free calculation. However, students will still be able to apply for re-evaluation, during which the digitally awarded marks will be visible.
Webinar on conduct of examination 2026 and digital evaluation
Why CBSE Is Confident About Digital Evaluation
CBSE listed several advantages of digital evaluation during the webinar. Automated systems eliminate totalling, posting, and uploading errors.
Teachers can evaluate answer sheets from their own schools, which reduces travel, improves participation, and speeds up the evaluation process. CBSE also stated that evaluation time will reduce from 12 days to 9 days, helping the Board declare results faster.
The Board believes that digital evaluation will not only improve efficiency but also promote transparency and consistency in marking across regions and countries.
Revised Question Paper Structure for Class 10
For Class 10 students, CBSE has restructured the Science and Social Science question papers. Science will now have separate sections for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, while Social Science will include History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics as distinct sections.
Students must attempt each subject section separately, and subject-specific teachers will evaluate the papers. CBSE said this change will improve the quality of evaluation and ensure that each subject receives focused assessment.
Strict Instructions for Schools and Teacher Deployment
CBSE issued a firm warning to schools regarding teacher deployment. The Board stated that if schools fail to relieve teachers for examination duties or evaluation work, CBSE will not declare the school’s results. The Board made it clear that cooperation from schools is essential for the successful conduct of exams.
Deadline for Submitting Exam Queries
CBSE asked schools to email their examination-related queries to info.cbseexam@cbseshiksha.in by 5 PM the next day. The Board will compile these queries, prepare a set of frequently asked questions, and circulate them to all affiliated schools to avoid confusion during the exam period.
CBSE Board Exam 2026: FAQs Based on Revised Guidelines
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Will CBSE Class 10 board exams be held twice a year in 2026? | Yes. CBSE has announced that Class 10 board exams will be conducted twice a year from 2026. |
| What new evaluation system has CBSE introduced for Class 12? | CBSE has introduced digital evaluation through an on-screen marking system for Class 12 answer sheets. |
| How will the Class 10 Science question paper be structured? | The Science paper will have separate sections for Physics Chemistry and Biology. |
| How will the Class 10 Social Science question paper be structured? | The paper will have separate sections for History Civics and Geography. |
| Will marks be given if answers are written in the wrong section? | No. CBSE has stated that no marks will be awarded if answers are not written in the correct section. |
| On what basis will Class 10 answer sheets be evaluated? | Evaluation will be done strictly on a section-wise basis. |
| How many students usually appear for the Class 12 board exams? | More than 18 lakh students generally appear for the Class 12 board exams. |
| What are the benefits of on-screen marking for Class 12? | It reduces errors speeds up evaluation saves time and cost and allows wider teacher participation. |
| How much evaluation time will be reduced through digital checking? | The evaluation time will be reduced from 12 days to 9 days. |
| Will CBSE allow verification of marks after Class 12 results? | No. CBSE has stated that there will be no verification of marks after the results. |
| Will evaluators do totalling of marks in digital evaluation? | No. Evaluators will only check answer booklets and totalling will be done automatically. |
| Will evaluators cross-check marks after evaluation? | No. CBSE has clarified that cross-checking of marks will not be required. |
CBSE Board Exams 2026: Important Digital Evaluation Points
| Topic Area | Specific Points That Were Left Out |
|---|---|
| Monitoring of evaluators | Tracking the time taken per answer book by each evaluator to ensure uniform speed and quality. |
| Evaluation accuracy control | Close monitoring of mistakes committed during evaluation for correction and improvement. |
| Quality assurance | Sample rechecking of answer books by Assistant Examiners or Head Examiners. |
| Accountability records | Recording the number of errors identified and corrected for each evaluator. |
| School-wise participation | Monitoring teacher participation from each school during the evaluation process. |
| Attendance control | Tracking the attendance of evaluation team members to ensure active involvement. |
| Pre-evaluation preparation | Discussion on the marking scheme before the start of evaluation. |
| Trial process | Conducting mock or practice evaluations to reduce variation in marking. |
| Platform training | Familiarisation sessions to give teachers hands-on experience with the digital system. |
| Evaluator workload clarity | Clear mention that core evaluation duties remain unchanged. |
| Time allocation | Explanation that evaluators will have more time for marking due to removal of totalling work. |
| Stress reduction | Reduced stress on evaluators because of less administrative burden. |
| Skill enhancement | Opportunity for skill development of teachers through wider participation. |
| Clean work environment | Emphasis on a dust-free and clean evaluation process due to no physical handling. |
| Complete evaluation | Confirmation that no answer book will remain unevaluated under the digital system. |
What Lies Ahead
CBSE confirmed that the results of both Class 10 board exams will be considered for the final merit list. The Board also hinted that further reforms may be introduced in the coming years to strengthen the examination system.
Read This Too : CBSE Board Exam 2026: Live Webcast on New Guidelines and Initiatives – Read Details
Through this detailed webinar, CBSE aimed to ensure that schools, teachers, principals, and examination staff clearly understand updated procedures and responsibilities. The Board advised all stakeholders to rely only on official CBSE communications and follow instructions carefully to ensure a smooth and fair CBSE Board Exams 2026.
Disclaimer
This news article is based on information shared by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) during its official webinar and related communications. The details provided here are for informational purposes only.
Students, parents, and schools are advised to refer to official CBSE notifications, circulars, and the CBSE website for the most accurate and updated information. The publisher does not take responsibility for any changes made by CBSE after the publication of this article.
