Lok Sabha Question No. 1171 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Two Board Exams
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Mallu Ravi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1171 ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## Two Board Exams

## 1171.   Dr. Mallu Ravi:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the official data on student uptake for the first-ever cycle of the 'two board exams' for classes X and XII, which is being held in the 2024-25 academic session (with the first exam in Nov.-Dec., 2024);
- (b) the  details  of  logistical  and  financial  preparations  made  by  the  Government  to ensure  the  smooth  conduct  of  this  new  bi-annual  exam  format,  including  the availability of new textbooks and teacher training; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  status  of  consensus-building  with  various  State  Examination Boards to adopt this new NCF-mandated exam structure in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c): Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as per the recommendations  of  NEP-2020  has  decided  to  conduct  Two  Board  Examination  from 2026 for Class X. The first  examination of class X will be conducted in the month of February-March 2026 for which 2513847 number of candidate have enrolled and for the 2nd exam List of Candidates (LoC) will be opened  after the  declaration of result. Hence, there is no estimate of the numbers of candidates, who will appear for the Second Board Examination during May/June 2026.

As far as conduct of Two Board examinations is concerned, CBSE is making all arrangements  as  per  Board's  approved  norms  and  also  conduct  capacity  building programmes of all concerned stakeholders.

The  National  Education  Policy (NEP),  2020,  and  the subsequent  National Curriculum  Framework  for  School  Education  (NCF-SE),  2023,  prepared  by  NCERT, provide broad guiding principles for curricula and textbooks at the national level. NCERT textbooks are developed in alignment with these frameworks. The NEP, 2020 in its para 4.32  states  that,  'States  will  prepare  their  own  curricula  (which  may  be  based  on  the NCFSE prepared by NCERT to the extent possible) and prepare textbooks (which may be based  on  the  NCERT  textbook  materials  to  the  extent  possible),  incorporating  State flavour and material as needed. While doing so, it must be borne in mind that NCERT curriculum would be taken as the nationally acceptable criterion.'

Para  4.37  of  NEP,  2020  states  that  all  students  shall  be  allowed  to  take  Board examinations ' on  up  to  two  occasions  during  any  given  school  year,  one  main examination and one for improvement ' .  This provision aims to eliminate the stress and provide students with flexibility, choice, and an opportunity for self-improvement without stigma.  PARAKH at NCERT is engaging with all State School Boards with a view to create equivalence in Curriculum and Assessment.

However, as Education is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, the implementation of various aspects of NEP for schools under State Boards lies within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments.

****