The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced new guidelines for its 2026 board exams. These changes affect both Class 10 and Class 12 students. A webcast on February 13, 2026, detailed the revised rules. The board also issued an advisory for exam day conduct.
Class 12 On-Screen Marking System
A significant change for Class 12 students is the implementation of an ‘on-screen marking’ (OSM) system. This digital process will be used to check answer sheets. The board expects this to speed up evaluation considerably.
Typically, over 1.8 million students take Class 12 exams in 120 subjects. This results in more than 10 million answer books. The OSM system aims to reduce the time needed for transporting and checking these papers.
The board anticipates that the OSM system will cut checking time by two-thirds. Automated coordination requires less human intervention. This allows for faster evaluation and wider teacher participation.
Transportation time and costs will be reduced. The evaluation process is projected to shorten from 12 days to 9 days. However, the board stated there will be no marks verification after results are declared.
Class 10 and 12 Exam Advisory
Students must arrive at their examination centers by 10:00 AM . Exams are scheduled to begin promptly at 10:30 AM .
Students should be aware of potential traffic delays. Congestion and diversions may occur due to ongoing events. It is recommended that students visit their exam center beforehand.
Advance planning of travel routes is advised. This will help ensure students arrive on time for all scheduled examinations.