The Central Board of Secondary Education has come out with a Two Board Examination Scheme for Class X students. This scheme, which was notified on June 25, 2025, is now ready to be rolled out in the 2026 examination cycle. Under the new scheme, Class 10 students appearing in the 2026 main board exams shall be given another chance to improve their results in up to three subjects in the Second Board Examinations held in May 2026. The board has issued an official notice for the private candidates who want to appear in the second board exams. These are the details for the same:
Eligibility of Class 10 private students for second board exam 2026
There are definite categories of candidates who will become eligible for taking the second board examination in 2026, that is, the third-chance compartment category according to CBSE norms.Candidates include those belonging to the year 2024-25 put in the Compartment categoryCandidates belonging to the same year put in Compartment but still eligible for the examinations other than Compartment, but did not appear in the main examinations 2026. Such candidates shall be treated under the third chance compartment category.
How to submit LOC forms for online examinations?
As per the instructions laid out by the CBSE for Second Board Examination applications, it should be made through the Online Mode on the following website: https://www.cbse.gov.in/newsite/private/index.htmlImportant Instructions:
- Form filling offline is strictly not allowed
- DD/cheque/money order/postal order payments for fees cannot be entertained
- Forms without fee payment shall be automatically disqualified
- Late applications would be automatically disqualified
It needs to be understood here that only the form filling alone does not make an application complete unless accompanied by the payment of fees.
CBSE Class 10 Second Board Exam 2026 schedule and submission window
The process of submitting the List of Candidates (LOC) together with the required fees is divided into two stages.
- First Stage: April 16, 2026 (12 noon) to April 20, 2026 (midnight)
- Second Stage: April 21, 2026 to April 22, 2026 (midnight)
Applicants should strive to submit their applications during the first stage to avoid extra costs.
Examination pattern and syllabus details for CBSE second board exam 2026
CBSE has confirmed that the Second Board Examination 2026 will be conducted strictly on the same syllabus as the first examination of the year. This ensures uniformity in evaluation and maintains consistency in academic standards across both attempts.
Fee structure: Subject-wise payment and late fee penalty
Fees will vary depending on the category of the candidates and the examination area.India (per candidate per subject)
- Regular fee: Rs. 320 per subject
- Total fee (approximate slab): Rs. 1100 per candidate per subject
For Nepal and other countries: Rs. 2200 per candidate per subjectLate fee facility: Extra Rs. 2000 per candidate apart from the regular feeCBSE has made it clear that fees can be paid only in online modes, such as:
- Net banking
- Debit card
- Credit card (domestic and foreign)
Strict compliance rules: CBSE warns against errors and false entries
The board has come out with a stringent compliance structure for candidates:
- False data or inaccuracies shall result in disqualification
- Fees paid shall be forfeited in case of misrepresentation
- Unfair practices by candidates shall attract punitive measures
- Forms filled from cyber cafes or through intermediaries are ultimately the candidate’s own responsibility
- Third party mistakes shall not be accepted as grounds for correction
CBSE has also laid emphasis on the point that students need to take care when choosing their examination city, since it can’t be altered subsequently.
Digital-first process: No hard copy required for CBSE submission
Reinforcing its digital shift, CBSE has confirmed:
- Entire application process is online
- No hard copy submission is required
- Candidates can download submitted forms for personal records
- Photo and signature uploads must be in JPG format and under 40 KB
Key safeguards and final warning from CBSE
CBSE has highlighted additional procedural safeguards:
- Only auto-generated subjects will be available for selection
- Candidates must ensure correct subject codes, especially for languages
- Incorrect or incomplete applications will be rejected
- Eligibility is subject to fulfilment of CBSE norms, even after fee payment
The board has also warned that applications without successful fee submission will be automatically cancelled without notice.
