CBSE 10th Second Board Exam 2026 Phase 2: Registration Open- Check LOC, Fee, Eligibility & How to Apply

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially opened the registration process for the Class 10 Second Board Examination 2026. This is a historic move — it's the first time CBSE is conducting two board exams for Class 10 in the same academic year.

The second board exam is scheduled for May 2026. Students who want to improve their scores or clear compartment subjects now have a structured opportunity to do so without waiting an entire year.

Schools can now submit the List of Candidates (LOC) through the official CBSE portal. The board has rolled out a three-phase submission process to give students and schools enough flexibility.

👉 Official Notice

CBSE 10th Second Board Exam 2026: Key Dates

Here's the complete schedule for LOC submission and fee payment.

Phase 1 (Advance Registration): March 18 to March 31, 2026. Schools can submit the LOC for students who've already decided to appear.

Phase 2 (Post-Result Window): Starts from the very next day after the main exam results are declared. This phase stays open for 5 days. It allows students to review their scores first and then decide.

Phase 3 (Late Fee Window): Opens on the 7th day after result declaration and lasts for 2 days. A late fee will apply during this phase.

The online portal will close at 11:59 PM on the last day of each phase. Students and parents should plan accordingly to avoid missing the deadline.

Who Can Appear for the CBSE 10th Second Board Exam 2026?

Not every student is eligible. CBSE has set clear rules based on performance in the first board exam.

Eligible Students:

Students who've passed the first exam can appear to improve their marks in up to three subjects. These subjects can be chosen from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages.

Students who've been placed in the compartment category after the first exam can also appear. They'll need to submit a fresh LOC for their pending subjects.

Students who passed through subject replacement or received special permission from the board (like sports students) are also eligible.

Who Can't Appear:

Students who didn't appear for, or failed in, three or more subjects in the main exam aren't eligible. CBSE has placed them in the "Essential Repeat" category. These students will have to appear in the main board exam in February 2027.

Also, no new names can be added to the LOC if the student wasn't part of the first exam process.

Important Rules for the Second Board Exam

CBSE has issued clear guidelines to keep the process transparent and fair.

The syllabus for the second exam will be exactly the same as the main board exam. There's no change in the curriculum or pattern.

Students can't switch their subjects between the first and second exams. The only exception is Mathematics, as per existing CBSE policy.

Exam centres will remain the same for both attempts. However, CBSE has mentioned that centres may be limited. Once a centre is allotted, no change requests will be accepted.

Internal assessment and practical exam marks will carry forward from the first attempt. These won't be conducted again since they're based on year-long activities.

How to Apply for CBSE 10th Second Board Exam 2026

Students can't fill out the form on their own. The entire process is handled by schools.

Here's how it works. The school principal submits the LOC on behalf of students through the CBSE portal. Principals must verify all student details before final submission. Individual applications from students or parents won't be accepted.

CBSE has asked schools to guide students carefully. The board wants students to use this facility wisely — primarily when performance improvement is genuinely needed, not as a routine attempt.

CBSE's Advice for Schools and Parents

CBSE has directed principals to clearly inform students and parents about the eligibility criteria, subject options, LOC submission schedule, and fee payment deadlines. This will help avoid last-minute confusion.

The board has also encouraged early submission during Phase 1. Submitting the LOC early helps CBSE with logistical planning, including centre allocation and subject-wise arrangements.

However, there's no pressure to decide immediately. Students can wait until after the main results are out and then complete their LOC submission during Phase 2.

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👉 CBSE Class 10 Study Materials

CBSE Class 10 study material includes latest syllabus, sample papers, NCERT books and solutions, previous year question papers, chapter-wise important questions, case study questions, assertion-reason questions, and competency-based questions — all updated as per the latest CBSE board exam pattern.