CBSE board exams 2026 from today: Centre instructions and important checklist for students

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Lakhs of students from India and abroad are appearing for the examinations this year.According to board data, 25,08,319 students are appearing for the Class 10 examinations across 83 subjects at 8,075 centres. This includes 14,08,546 male candidates and 10,99,773 female candidates.For Class 12, a total of 18,59,551 students are appearing across 120 subjects at 7,574 centres. Among them are 10,27,552 male candidates and 8,31,999 female candidates.In total, over 43.6 lakh candidates are taking the CBSE board examinations in 2026.

Exam timing and first-day papers

The examinations are being held in a single shift from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Entry to the examination centre closes at 10 am. Students have been advised to reach the centre 25 to 30 minutes early to avoid any delay.

Important instructions for all candidates

CBSE has reminded students that a hard copy of the admit card is mandatory on every examination day. Entry will not be allowed without it.Students must:

Electronic items such as mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, or any communication device are strictly prohibited. Candidates found with such items will not be allowed to appear for the examination.Students will be given 15 minutes to read the question paper before writing begins. Answers must be written using only blue or black pens.CBSE has also warned students and parents not to believe rumours on social media related to paper leaks or unofficial question papers. Only information issued by CBSE should be trusted.

Delhi traffic advisory for students

Due to the ongoing AI Impact Summit and VVIP movement near Bharat Mandapam, the Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory for smooth movement of students.Ten schools located on major VVIP routes have been identified, and traffic police officers have been deployed to assist students and staff. Students carrying their CBSE admit card or date sheet will be given priority at traffic checkpoints.Schools located in areas such as Tilak Marg, Vinay Marg, Pandara Road, Africa Avenue, Delhi Cantt, and nearby zones are covered under the advisory. Students have been advised to check travel routes with their schools.

Class 10 dual board exams: First attempt is compulsory

From 2026, CBSE has introduced a dual-board examination system for Class 10 under the National Education Policy 2020.The board has clarified that appearing in the first board examination is mandatory. Students who do not appear in at least three subjects in the first exam will be placed in the Essential Repeat category and will not be allowed to appear in the second exam.Students who pass the first exam can improve their scores in up to three subjects during the second examination. Compartment students will also be allowed to appear in the second exam under existing rules.CBSE has clearly stated that no exemption requests from the first attempt rule will be accepted.

Class 12 evaluation to go digital with On-Screen Marking

A major change this year is the introduction of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 answer sheets.Under this system, answer books will be scanned page by page and evaluated digitally on a secure platform. Examiners will assess answers directly on screen using secure login credentials.CBSE stated that with over 10 crore answer booklets expected, digital evaluation will help reduce errors, improve monitoring, and speed up result declaration. All pages, including blank pages, will be scanned to ensure transparency.

Important writing instructions under OSM

While the exam pattern remains the same, CBSE has asked students to follow these instructions carefully:

CBSE has said the new digital system will help reduce evaluation mistakes and post-result complaints.Students are advised to remain calm and follow all examination instructions carefully. Good luck!