CBSE Board Exam 2026: New Exam Guidelines and Advisory for Class 10 and 12 Students

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) held a live webcast on February 13, 2026. It was meant for students appearing in the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams this year.

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During the session, CBSE shared updated exam guidelines for 2026. It also explained the new On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheets.

👉 Official Notice PDF : CBSE Board 2026 Advisory

Here's everything you need to know.

What Is On-Screen Marking (OSM)?

On-Screen Marking is a digital system for checking answer sheets. Instead of sending physical answer books to teachers, CBSE will scan them and share digital copies. Teachers will then evaluate the answers on a computer screen.

This is a big change from the traditional method, where answer sheets were physically transported to evaluation centres across the country.

Why Is CBSE Switching to Digital Evaluation?

Every year, over 18 lakh students take the Class 12 board exams. These exams cover 120 subjects and produce more than 1 crore answer books. Managing all of that on paper takes a lot of time and effort.

With the new OSM system, CBSE expects to cut the time spent on transporting and checking papers by nearly two-thirds.

Key Benefits of the On-Screen Marking System

Faster evaluation: The entire checking process will now take about 9 days instead of the earlier 12 days. That's a significant reduction.

Less human effort: Automated coordination means fewer delays. More teachers can participate in checking at the same time, which speeds things up further.

Lower costs: Since there's no need to physically move lakhs of answer books, CBSE will save on transportation costs.

One important change: Once results are declared, there won't be any option for verification of marks. Students should keep this in mind.

CBSE Advisory for Class 10 and 12 Students

CBSE also shared a set of instructions for all board exam students. These apply to both Class 10 and Class 12.

Reach the centre early. Students must arrive at their exam centre by 10:00 AM. The exam begins at 10:30 AM. That's only a 30-minute window, so don't cut it close.

Plan for traffic. CBSE has warned that traffic delays, road diversions, and congestion are likely during the exam period due to other events happening around the same time.

Visit your centre in advance. If you haven't already, go to your exam centre before the first exam day. Know the exact location, check the route, and figure out how long it takes to get there.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 board exams bring some meaningful changes, especially for Class 12 students. The shift to digital evaluation should make the process quicker and more efficient. But the removal of mark verification means students won't get a second chance to challenge their scores after results come out.

Stay prepared, leave early on exam day, and keep an eye on official CBSE updates for any last-minute changes.

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👉 CBSE Class 12 Study Materials

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👉 CBSE Class 10 Study Materials