The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations began across India today, marking a crucial academic milestone for more than 43 lakh students. With 25,08,319 candidates appearing for Class 10 and 18,59,551 for Class 12, examination centres nationwide have been placed under strict security cover, with the Board making it clear that no relaxation in rules will be permitted. The exams are being conducted in a single shift from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, with students receiving an additional 15 minutes to carefully read the question paper.
This year also marks the introduction of the dual-examination system, offering students a second opportunity to improve their scores. However, CBSE has made it mandatory for first-time Class 10 candidates to appear for the main examination and has rejected requests to skip it in favour of the second attempt. Students can reappear for up to three subjects — including Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages — in the improvement phase. The Board has advised candidates to reach centres before 10 am, strictly follow the dress code, and ignore rumours about question paper leaks circulating on social media, warning that stringent action will be taken against those spreading misinformation.
