The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially released the tentative datesheet for Class 10 and 12 board examinations 2026. Students preparing for these crucial exams can now access the detailed schedule on the official CBSE website. This move is expected to benefit nearly 45 lakh candidates who will appear in the 2026 CBSE board examinations across India and in 26 countries abroad.
CBSE Board Exam 2026 Dates Announced
According to the notification, the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 main board examinations 2026 will begin from February 17, 2026. The Class 10 board exams are scheduled to conclude on March 9, 2026, while the Class 12 board exams will continue until April 9, 2026.
On most days, the exam timings will be from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. However, for certain subjects, the duration will be two hours, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. This clarity in exam timing allows students to plan their revision and performance strategies more efficiently.
Class 10 Second Examination (Exam-2)
In addition to the main exams, the CBSE Class 10 Exam-2 (Second Examination) 2026 is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 15, 2026. This gives students another opportunity to improve their performance in selected subjects.
Massive Participation Expected
As per CBSE, nearly 45 lakh students are expected to participate in the 2026 CBSE board examinations. This includes candidates from both Classes 10 and 12, spread across 204 subjects. The board has also confirmed that students from 26 countries abroad will be appearing for the exams, further highlighting the global reach of CBSE.
Purpose of Tentative Datesheet
The board clarified that the release of the tentative CBSE 2026 datesheet is aimed at giving students, teachers, and schools adequate time to prepare. With early access to the schedule:
- Students can create structured study plans to enhance their preparation and performance.
- Schools can align their academic and administrative activities, such as teacher deployment for exam and evaluation duties.
- Teachers can plan their professional and personal commitments, including vacations, with greater clarity.
This proactive approach is expected to reduce last-minute stress for both students and institutions, ensuring a smooth and organized examination process.
How Students Should Prepare
With the dates now available, experts suggest that students should:
- Begin systematic revision schedules subject-wise.
- Focus on previous years’ question papers and sample papers released by CBSE.
- Practice effective time management during mock tests to simulate real exam conditions.
- Maintain a balanced routine of study, rest, and relaxation to optimize performance.
The CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exam datesheet 2026 marks the beginning of a focused preparation journey for millions of students. With exams starting on February 17, 2026, Class 10 concluding on March 9, and Class 12 ending on April 9, 2026, candidates now have a clear roadmap for success. Additionally, the Class 10 Second Examination from May 15, 2026, provides another chance for improvement.
Students, teachers, and schools are encouraged to utilize this tentative datesheet to streamline preparation and ensure a stress-free examination season, for more details and check class 12, 12 datesheet CLICK HERE




