The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) commenced the Class 10 and Class 12 Board examinations 2026 on Tuesday, with students nationwide taking the first papers. Exams are held in a single shift from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Many students arrived early at their exam centers, expressing a mix of nervousness and excitement on the first day. Over 43 lakh students are expected to appear for the exams, with Class 10 having around 25 lakh candidates and Class 12 nearly 18.5 lakh.
As students tackled the first papers, some shared their emotions outside exam centers in the national Capital. One student mentioned feeling nervous and excited about the Mathematics paper, while another expressed being a little nervous despite thorough preparation. The exams are conducted across thousands of centers for both Class 10 and Class 12 students. The CBSE has advised students to reach their exam centers early as entry will close at 10 a.m.
For Class 10 students, the first paper includes Mathematics (Basic) and Mathematics (Standard), while Class 12 students are taking exams in subjects like Biotechnology and Business Studies. The exams will be held in a single shift from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with strict entry rules. The Class 10 exams will end on March 10, and Class 12 exams on April 10, covering a total of 83 subjects for Class 10 and 120 for Class 12.
Ahead of the exams, the CBSE directed schools to ensure timely distribution of admit cards and question papers. Schools were instructed to download and distribute admit cards well in advance, verifying all details. Students must carry their admit cards to the exam center each day, as entry will not be allowed without it.
