Parliament Question: Mandatory First Board Examination For Class Ten Students

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3713 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Mandatory First Board Examination For Class Ten Students 3713. Shri V K Sreekandan: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for Class ten students to appear in the first Board examination; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether it is also true that the CBSE has received requests to allow those unable to appear in the first Board exam to appear in the second exam and if so, the details thereof; (d) whether according to CBSE, student who has not appeared in three or more subjects in the first exam, will not be allowed in the second exam; and (e) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (e): Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced Two Board Examination Policy as per recommendations made in NEP-2020 after extensive consultations with stakeholders i.e. Management of the schools, Principals, Teachers, Parents and students. As per policy, it is mandatory for all students to appear in the first/main Class X examinations. Details of the two examinations policy are as follows: - i. It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first Board examination. ii. All passed and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages. iii. If a student has not appeared in 3 or more subjects in first examination, then s/he will not be allowed to appear in the 2nd examination. Such students will be placed in the “Essential Repeat” category and can take the examination only next year in the main examinations in the month of February next year. iv. For students whose result in the first examination is Compartment, such students will be allowed to appear in second examination under Compartment Category. *****