Overview

• Exams begin on February 17, 2026, with Class 12 scheduled to conclude on April 9.
• For the first time, Class 10 will have two sittings in one academic year, with an initial window in February–March and a second from May 15 to June 1.
• The tentative timetable spans February 17 to July 15 and covers main exams, Class 12 exams for sports students, Class 10 second exams, and Class 12 supplementary papers.
• CBSE expects about 45 lakh candidates across 204 subjects from India and 26 countries to take part.
• Answer sheet evaluation will generally start about 10 days after each paper and finish within 12 days, according to CBSE guidelines.