Rajasthan will discontinue its no-detention policy for Class 5 board exams starting from the 2026-27 academic year . Students who fail the Class 5 examination will no longer be automatically promoted. Instead, they will be required to appear for a re-exam. Failure in this re-exam will result in students repeating the class.
This policy change aims to address declining academic standards. It also seeks to improve the overall quality of learning in state schools.
Policy Shift Details
Under the previous no-detention rule, students who did not clear the Class 5 board exam were automatically advanced to the next grade. Rajasthan began conducting board exams for Class 5 in 2017. The upcoming 2026 Class 5 board exams are scheduled from February 20 to March 5 .
The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) confirmed these changes. Students who do not pass the Class 5 board exam will receive an opportunity for a re-exam. If they fail the re-exam, they must repeat the same class. This marks the end of the elementary-level no-detention policy in Rajasthan.
The Rajasthan government stated that promoting students without passing their exams had reduced the seriousness towards studies. The new regulations are designed to foster greater accountability and improve educational outcomes.
The Rajasthan education department will issue an official notification detailing these policy modifications. Preparations for implementing the new system are currently underway.
Enhanced Security for Class 9 and 11 Exams
In a separate announcement, the education department has issued stringent directives to bolster the security of question papers for Class 9 and 11 examinations. These measures aim to prevent paper leaks and maintain confidentiality.
New orders mandate round-the-clock security arrangements for question papers stored at PEEO (Panchayat Elementary Education Officer) or UCEO (Urban Cluster Education Officer) offices. This requirement applies under any emergency circumstances. Staff will be deployed 24 hours a day to ensure constant vigilance and prevent any breach.
District Education Officers (Headquarters), Secondary Education, hold the authority to decide where question papers will be stored. They can choose between police stations, PEEO, or UCEO offices. These officers are also responsible for training relevant personnel. Only trained officials will be appointed as centre superintendents or examination in-charges for these exams. This directive clarifies the roles and responsibilities in securing examination materials.