Nearly 20 lakh Class 10 and 12 students preparing for the February 17, 2026 board exams will face the most structured overhaul CBSE has implemented in years. The changes are not cosmetic. They affect how exams are written, how answer sheets are checked, how attendance is monitored and even how students are digitally identified through APAAR ID integration.
For families across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and other major cities, preparation is no longer limited to syllabus completion. It now includes understanding new exam attempts, attendance compliance, digital verification systems and competency-heavy question papers shaped by the National Education Policy 2020.
Here is a clear, student-first breakdown of what is changing and how it will unfold.
Blueprint Redrawn: 50% Competency-Based Questions
CBSE has formally shifted half of the board paper weightage to competency-driven questions. That includes case studies, real-life problem solving and application-based scenarios.
The revised pattern for Classes 10 and 12 broadly follows:
-
50% competency or application-based questions
-
20% objective-type questions including analytical MCQs
-
30% short and long descriptive answers
This signals a decisive move away from memory-led preparation. Students will need conceptual clarity and structured writing. Simply reproducing textbook lines will not secure high marks under this framework.
Sectional answering has also become stricter. Writing answers in the wrong section may attract zero marks, even if the content is correct. Schools are advising students to practise answer-sheet discipline and time management carefully.
Class 10’s Two-Attempt Structure
For Class 10 students, CBSE has introduced a dual-exam framework.
The February examination remains compulsory. A second improvement opportunity will be available in May for up to three subjects. The better of the two scores will be counted in the final result.
This offers flexibility, but it also introduces structure. Students who fail in three or more subjects will not qualify for the May improvement and will need to reappear in 2027 under an Essential Repeat category.
Private candidates face tighter rules. Once they pass, they will not be permitted to add new subjects later. The board has signalled that subject expansion after certification will not be entertained from 2026 onward.
Class 12 Keeps Single Attempt, Expands Internal Weightage
Unlike Class 10, Class 12 will continue with a single main examination cycle. However, the competency focus mirrors Class 10’s pattern.
Internal assessment weightage in Class 12 subjects ranges between 20% and 40%, depending on the subject. The board exam component accounts for the remaining 60%.
Another notable update is the expansion to a nine-point grading system, replacing the earlier five-tier structure. The aim is to provide more granular academic differentiation in line with NEP recommendations.
Digital Evaluation Goes Wider
Answer sheets will increasingly be scanned and evaluated through an on-screen marking system.
Teachers, after undergoing board-certified training, will evaluate scripts digitally rather than handling physical bundles. The board believes this will improve consistency and reduce evaluation delays.
Schools will also be required to verify student records more strictly before exam data is locked. Biometric checks at selected examination centres are under planning to curb impersonation risks.
This digitisation effort connects directly with Pariksha Sangam, CBSE’s integrated portal that centralises student records, admit cards and exam data.
75% Attendance Rule Linked to Internal Assessments
CBSE has reinforced the 75% attendance requirement for board eligibility.
Attendance is now linked to internal assessment tracking, which operates as a continuous two-year academic record rather than a last-minute project submission system.
Students in sports or cultural representation categories may receive exemptions under defined conditions. Overseas students also have certain flexibilities. However, routine attendance relaxations are unlikely.
Schools in Delhi NCR are already monitoring attendance more closely, given the tighter compliance standards.
APAAR ID Mandatory Through Pariksha Sangam
Every board candidate must now register with an APAAR ID, a unique digital student identification number integrated with national academic records.
Correction windows for personal details such as name, date of birth and photograph will be strictly limited. Duplicate or cross-board entries are not permitted.
In urban clusters like Delhi and Gurugram, schools report high volumes of last-minute verification queries from parents, especially regarding digital documentation accuracy.
Changes Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ground Reality in Delhi NCR
School administrators in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram anticipate logistical pressure on exam mornings, particularly with biometric verification pilots and earlier reporting times.
Traffic congestion near major exam centres often peaks around 7 am. Parents are being advised to plan routes in advance and avoid last-minute rush.
Admit cards are APAAR-linked. Any discrepancy in student data may delay download access if not corrected within the specified window.
Internal Assessment Now a Two-Year Academic Record
Projects and inquiry-based assignments are no longer isolated exercises near board season. They form part of a rolling evaluation system that spans two academic years.
Teachers confirm that internal marks will increasingly reflect classroom participation, project depth and conceptual engagement rather than superficial submissions.
For students accustomed to late project preparation, this requires a mindset shift.
Preparation Strategy Needs Adjustment
The new blueprint rewards:
-
Case-study solving practice
-
Diagram-based explanations
-
Analytical MCQ drills
-
Structured time-bound writing
OMR familiarity and sectional answering discipline are equally important under stricter evaluation norms.
A Broader Academic Transition
CBSE’s 2026 structure reflects a clear alignment with NEP 2020’s emphasis on application-based learning and reduced exam stress.
The two-attempt option for Class 10 introduces flexibility. Digital evaluation enhances monitoring. Continuous internal assessment reduces single-exam pressure.
The success of these reforms will depend on execution quality, teacher training and timely communication with schools.
For now, the direction is unmistakable. India’s largest school board is steadily moving from memory testing to applied understanding, with digital systems reinforcing accountability at every stage.
