CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has released the tentative date sheet for the Class 10 board examinations 2026, and this time it comes with significant changes. The exams will be held in two phases for Class 10, giving students options to improve their scores within the same academic year. The first phase will run from February 17 to March 9, 2026, while the second (optional / improvement) phase is slated for May 15 to June 1, 2026.
📆 Key Dates & Timings
Phase 1 (Compulsory for all): February 17 to March 9, 2026
Phase 2 (Optional / Improvement): May 15 to June 1, 2026
Exam shift / timing: Most papers will be held 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
For some skill / vocational / elective subjects (painting, automotive, etc.), the end time could be 12:30 pm instead of 1:30 pm.
The timetable is tentative — CBSE may revise it after receiving the final List of Candidates (LOC) from schools.
📄 Subject-Wise Tentative Schedule
From the tentative schedule released in the CBSE circular (PDF) and jagranjosh’s coverage, here are some key subject placements for Class 10:
| Date | Time | Subject(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Mathematics (Standard, Basic) |
| Feb 18, 2026 | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Various vocational / elective courses such as Retail, Security, Automotive, etc. |
| Feb 21, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | English (Communicative / Language & Literature) |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Regional / foreign languages (e.g. French, Urdu, Punjabi, etc.) |
| Feb 25, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Science |
| Feb 26, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Home Science |
| Feb 27, 2026 | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Computer Applications / Information Technology / Artificial Intelligence |
| Feb 28, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Language / Sanskrit / etc. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Hindi (Elective / Core) |
| Mar 3, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Tibetan, German, etc. |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Social Science |
| Mar 9, 2026 | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | Some languages (e.g. Telugu, Arabic, etc.) |
Because there are many language / elective combinations, the full timetable (in the PDF) lists many more subject codes and their exam days.
🔍 Major Changes & What’s New
Two-Exam System for Class 10
For the first time, CBSE will hold two board exams in a single academic year for Class 10: one mandatory (Phase 1) and a second for improvement / reattempt (Phase 2).
Phase 2 is optional for students who wish to better their marks or retake missed exams.Same Timings for All Theory Exams
Most exams are shifted in a single morning session (10:30 am to 1:30 pm), reducing confusion and keeping uniformity.Skill / Vocational Papers End Earlier
To manage exam load and overlap, skill / vocational papers (e.g. retail, automotive, etc.) are scheduled with shorter durations (ending by 12:30 pm) in many cases.Tentative & Subject to Change
The datesheet is provisional — final dates will be published after schools submit final candidate lists (LOC).
🧭 What Students Should Do Now
Download the official tentative date sheet PDF from CBSE’s website. (Circular / Documents section) CBSE
Mark your core subjects and those with heavy weight (Mathematics, Science, English, Social Science) first.
Plan revision in such a way that you cover tougher topics earlier in the schedule.
For Phase 2, see which subjects you want to retake / improve and allocate time accordingly.
Keep checking CBSE’s site for finalized date sheet updates.
Maintain attendance and complete internal / practical work early so that exam days are free for revision.
This tentative schedule gives you a head start to plan your studies, manage time, and set revision targets. Remember that the final schedule may change, so stay updated via CBSE’s official portal.
Would you like me to send you a printable calendar version of the Class 10 tentative schedule, with a checklist, so you can track your prep easily?
