The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a significant update for Class 10 students regarding the 2026 board examinations and the issuance of passing certificates. As per the board’s usual schedule, Class 10 and 12 results are expected to be declared in May, and students will be able to access their marksheets through the official website, cbse.gov.in, using their roll number, school number, and admit card ID.

In a major policy shift, CBSE has introduced a second board examination for Class 10, which will be conducted in May 2026. This examination will provide students with an opportunity to improve their performance in up to three subjects. However, the most notable change is that students will not receive their passing certificates immediately after the first examination. Instead, only marksheets will be issued initially, while the official passing certificate will be released later through DigiLocker, after the completion of the second examination.

The board has clarified that this change will not affect students’ progression to the next class. Schools have been instructed to grant admission to Class 11 based on the marks obtained in the first examination, even if a student chooses not to appear for the second exam. No institution is permitted to deny admission on this basis, although students will eventually be required to submit their passing certificate once it is issued.

Eligibility for the second examination has also been defined. Only those students who have appeared in at least three subjects in the main examination will be allowed to take the improvement test. Students who were absent or failed in three or more subjects will not qualify. The improvement exam can be taken in any three subjects, including Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages, and the syllabus will remain unchanged from the main examination.