CBSE has released the final date sheet for the 2026 board exams, confirming a mid-February start and a 10:30 a.m. reporting time for written papers, with stream-wise schedules now locked for Classes 10 and 12 (Source: CBSE final date sheet, 30 October 2025).
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) published its final timetable on 30 October 2025, replacing the tentative grid issued on 24 September. The final circular clarifies two details students most care about: the first day of theory papers falls in mid-February 2026, and all written papers begin at 10:30 a.m. (IST) unless a paper specifies otherwise. It also reiterates that the schedule was crafted to provide adequate gaps between major subjects and to avoid clashes with national entrance tests like JEE Main. Schools and families can plan around this confirmed plan, while candidates should download the official PDF to check their subject codes and exact dates. (Source: CBSE final date sheet, 30 Oct 2025; CBSE tentative schedule, 24 Sept 2025).
Key Numbers
- Final timetable issued: 30 October 2025 (Source: CBSE).
- Start window: Mid-February 2026; Class 12 concludes in early April per media summaries (Source: CBSE; Times of India, 31 Oct 2025).
- Paper start time: 10:30 a.m. IST for written exams (Source: CBSE).
- Tentative vs final: Tentative grid published 24 Sept 2025 to help early planning; superseded by final on 30 Oct 2025 (Source: CBSE).
- Two Class 10 boards per year from 2026: One main exam plus an improvement opportunity, per CBSE policy (Source: CBSE notification, 25 June 2025).
Introduction: What’s new in CBSE Date Sheet 2026?
CBSE’s 30 October advisory makes the final 2026 schedule official for both classes, answering the year’s biggest questions: yes, the date sheet is out; the first theory papers begin in mid-February 2026; and the reporting time continues to be 10:30 a.m. IST unless your paper says otherwise. The memo also notes the board has built in gaps between high-enrolment papers and kept an eye on national entrance tests to reduce clashes. Students should rely on the final PDF, not the September tentative grid shared for advance planning. (Source: CBSE final date sheet, 30 Oct 2025; tentative sheet, 24 Sept 2025).
If you want a media confirmation of the start window, national education desks report the written exams open around 17 February 2026, aligning with CBSE’s own documents; always double-check your subject’s line in the official PDF. (Source: Times of India, 30–31 Oct 2025).
One-tap: Download Official CBSE Date Sheet 2026 PDF
Skip the guesswork: open the CBSE website and download the “Date Sheet for Class X and XII for Board Examinations – 2026” published 30 October 2025. Verify you’re viewing the file dated 30.10.2025, then cross-check your class, subject name and code, and save a copy locally. This final file supersedes earlier tentative pages and should be the version you print or share with parents and teachers. (Source: CBSE examination circulars; final PDF link).
CBSE Date Sheet 2026 — Class 10 (what to look for)
Instead of scanning endless rows, focus on five essentials in the Class 10 grid:
- Your subject codes. Many schools post rooming and seating plans by code; always map “English (184)” and “Science (086)” correctly in your diary. The official PDF lists subjects by code, so match precisely. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
- The 10:30 a.m. rule. Written papers start at 10:30 a.m. IST. Reach your centre early to clear ID checks and seating. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
- Gaps before high-weightage papers. The board emphasises “adequate gaps” between major subjects; use those days for targeted revision rather than full-syllabus churn. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
- Final vs tentative. If you pencilled dates from the 24 September tentative sheet, update them now; the final grid is authoritative. (Source: CBSE tentative and final sheets).
- Confirm marquee dates in credible media summaries. For example, some national desks flag 26 February 2026 for the Class 10 English paper—use the on-record summaries to plan but prioritise the CBSE PDF when there’s any mismatch. (Source: Times of India, mid-Oct 2025 updates).
If you’re printing a one-pager for your wall, rewrite each line Date – Day – Subject – Code – Start 10:30 a.m. and highlight the gaps before Maths and Science to build a week-out strategy. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
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CBSE Date Sheet 2026 — Class 12 (Science, Commerce, Arts)
The final grid organises senior-secondary papers across Science, Commerce and Arts streams. Read it stream-wise first, then mark subject codes and any two-hour vs three-hour variations your school notes in the admit card briefing.
- Science: Flag Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology with their codes; anchor your plan around the largest gaps and practical-heavy subjects. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
- Commerce: Accounts, Business Studies and Economics cluster across the window; build a last-week plan that alternates problem-solving with concept recaps. (Source: CBSE final date sheet; national education desks’ summaries).
- Arts/Humanities: History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology and Psychology spread across late February into March/early April in media rundowns; confirm each line against the PDF before booking coaching tests. (Source: CBSE final date sheet; Economic Times, 31 Oct 2025).
Education portals and major dailies have published stream-wise explainers and “direct links to PDF,” useful for quick scanning. Use them for orientation, but your subject-by-subject planning must trace back to the CBSE PDF dated 30 October 2025. (Source: Jagran Josh; Shiksha, 31 Oct 2025).
Practical Exams, Internal Assessment & Project Work (2025–26)
Practical, project and internal assessment windows are board-regulated but school-scheduled within CBSE’s period. Two points matter this year:
- Winter-bound schools conduct practicals earlier, with CBSE issuing a dedicated notice on 16 October 2025; most such schools begin in early November through early December to finish before severe winter closures. (Source: CBSE circular index, 16 Oct 2025; Navbharat Times, 17 Oct 2025; Shiksha recap).
- For other schools, internal assessments and projects align with the main session timeline set out by CBSE and school examination cells; follow your school’s calendar and ensure attendance, lab records and signatures are complete. (Source: CBSE practicals circular index; CBSE public notice on essential requirements, 15 Sept 2025).
If in doubt, check your school’s exam noticeboard and ask for the laboratory schedule and the mark-upload deadline your teachers are working toward. (Source: CBSE circular index pointing to practicals window).
How CBSE Sets Gaps & Avoids Clashes (and what it means for you)
CBSE’s final memo spells out the logic behind the grid: provide adequate gaps between widely chosen subjects, keep teachers available for evaluation and school duties, and coordinate with JEE Main so that school exams do not coincide with national entrance papers. That’s why you’ll see longer spaces before Mathematics, Physics, or Accountancy in many centres. Use those pauses to run topic-sorted revision (units with highest error rates first), then timed problem sets. (Source: CBSE final date sheet, page 2).
One more policy shift shapes the 2026 calendar: two Class 10 boards per year—a main attempt and an improvement opportunity—aimed at reducing high-stakes pressure, consistent with NEP-2020. Your school will guide registrations, but the date-sheet you’ve downloaded is for the main session. (Source: CBSE policy notification, 25 June 2025; CBSE circulars page).
Exam Day Rules & What to Carry (10:30 a.m. start explained)
Plan to reach your centre well before 10:00 a.m. to clear ID checks and find your room. The default start time is 10:30 a.m. IST; invigilators will draw attention to any exceptions printed on your admit card. Carry your admit card, transparent stationery pouch, permitted writing instruments, and any aids explicitly allowed for your paper by CBSE/school. Phones and smart watches are barred. Calculator rules vary by subject and centre instructions; when unclear, ask your school exam cell a week in advance to avoid last-minute surprises. (Source: CBSE final date sheet; CBSE examination circulars index).
Schools also remind candidates about attendance thresholds and internal assessment requirements under the September 15 public notice; ensure you’re not tripped up by documentation at admit-card distribution. (Source: CBSE public notice, 15 Sept 2025).
Subject-wise Last-Week Plan (free mini-planners you can copy)
Use the gaps to run short, high-yield sprints:
- Class 10 Maths (041) & Science (086): Day 7–5 = formulae & definitions deck; Day 4–3 = mixed sets with timed sections; Day 2 = two past papers; Day 1 = light revision + sleep. (Source: CBSE sample papers, 2025-26).
- Class 10 English (184): Alternate between Reading and Literature: comprehension drills every morning; literature annotations at night; keep one day for grammar patterns seen in the latest SQP. (Source: CBSE SQP English 2025-26).
- Class 12 Physics/Accounts/History: For Physics, split days by Mechanics–Electrodynamics–Modern; for Accounts, rotate Journal–Ledger–Financial Statements; for History, run theme-wise timelines with map work in the last 48 hours. Align the order with your stream’s actual dates from the PDF. (Source: CBSE final date sheet; education-desk summaries).
Keep sessions short (45–60 minutes) with a five-minute mark-review at the end of each block. If the board has placed a longer gap before your toughest paper, protect the final evening for sleep rather than new content—CBSE’s own scheduling logic is designed to support exactly that. (Source: CBSE final date sheet, gap rationale).
Important Links: Admit Card, Sample Papers, Results Timeline
Bookmark the CBSE main site for all exam notices, CBSE Academic for sample papers, and the CBSE Results portal for result announcements after the exams. Admit cards for regular candidates are distributed via schools (schools download them through the board portal), while private candidates download theirs directly when the link is activated each session. For quick access, keep these hubs handy: cbse.gov.in, cbseacademic.nic.in (Sample Question Papers 2025-26), and results.cbse.nic.in for results publishing. (Source: CBSE main site; CBSE Academic SQP pages; CBSE Results portal).
When coverage ramps up at result time, national dailies will also mirror the links—but always prioritise the official portals to avoid ad-heavy redirects. (Source: Economic Times result explainer, May 2025).
FAQs (target People-Also-Ask)
Is the final CBSE date sheet 2026 out?
Yes. CBSE released the final Class 10 & 12 date sheet on 30 October 2025; download it from the board website. (Source: CBSE).
What is the start date of CBSE board exam 2026?
The board’s documents and press coverage place the start in mid-February 2026; national desks report 17 February 2026 for the first theory papers—check your subject line in the final PDF. (Source: CBSE; Times of India, 30–31 Oct 2025).
What’s the exam timing?
Written papers start at 10:30 a.m. IST, with reporting earlier for seating and ID checks. (Source: CBSE final date sheet).
Where can I download the PDF?
From cbse.gov.in under “Examination Circulars” (dated 30/10/2025), or via the “Main Website” notices. (Source: CBSE).
Will there be enough gaps between papers?
Yes. CBSE says it has provided adequate gaps between major subjects and coordinated the grid with entrance examinations to minimise conflicts. (Source: CBSE final date sheet, p.2).
Are practical exam dates the same for all schools?
No. They’re school-scheduled within CBSE windows; winter-bound schools run practicals earlier as per the 16 Oct 2025 notice. (Source: CBSE circular index; Navbharat Times, 17 Oct 2025).
Conclusion + Next Steps
Treat the 30 October 2025 PDF as your master file, not the September tentative sheet. Mark your codes, note the 10:30 a.m. start, and use the built-in gaps to run short, high-yield sprints—especially in the week before Maths, Physics, Accountancy or History. For practicals and internal assessments, defer to your school’s timetable within CBSE’s window, and keep documents (admit card, ID, lab records) ready early. When results season approaches, rely on results.cbse.nic.in for verified updates, and keep an eye on education desks for quick summaries that match the board’s pages. (Source: CBSE final date sheet; CBSE Results portal; national education desks).
What’s next: CBSE will continue issuing operational advisories through the exam season; check the Examination Circulars page weekly and confirm any rumoured “changes” against the PDF you’ve already saved. (Source: CBSE examination circulars page).