CBSE Boards: New guidelines for 2026 practicals 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued detailed instructions for the 2026 practical examinations for Classes 10 and 12, which are scheduled to take place from January 1 to February 14, 2026. The guidelines aim to ensure fairness, accuracy, and smooth conduct of practicals, internal assessments, and project work across affiliated schools.

Under the new rules, schools are required to adhere strictly to the Board’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Practical exams, project submissions, and internal assessments must be completed within the stipulated time. According to the Board, the strict schedule is necessitated by the simultaneous conduct of multiple exams this academic year. Marks, once entered and submitted on the CBSE portal, are irreversible, highlighting the importance of accurate and timely recording.

The students must now be divided into batches of 30 per subject. Finalising these batches can only take place after the Board confirms the availability of external examiners. Examiners’ diligence is emphasised in several sections of the guidelines. Both internal and external examiners must verify the correctness of marks before submission and strictly observe the maximum marks specified for each subject. Additionally, examiners will have to explicitly confirm via the online system that the uploaded marks are accurate.

The Board has also made provisions for students participating in national and international-level sports events; such students may request rescheduling of their practical exams but only within the official exam period, ensuring no unfair advantage or delay.

Education experts believe these new protocols reflect CBSE’s commitment to maintaining uniformity, transparency, and accountability across all affiliated institutes.