The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has shared an important update for students taking the Class 10 Board Exams in 2026, especially about the second exam cycle. The board has announced a new step-by-step process for submitting the List of Candidates (LOC) to make planning easier.
Three-Phase LOC Submission Process
CBSE has split the LOC submission into three phases, each with its own purpose:
Phase 1: Initial Data Submission
This phase is only for collecting student details. Schools need to send in the LOC data without paying any fee. This helps CBSE estimate how many students will take the second board exam and plan better.
Phases 2 & 3: Finalisation Stage
These phases are more flexible and important. During this time, schools can:
- Add or remove candidates
- Modify subject choices
- Update student details
At this point, schools must pay the exam fee to confirm students’ participation. The whole process will be managed by the schools where students took their main board exams.
Important Rule on Fees
CBSE has made it clear that schools should not charge extra fees. Some schools have been asking for additional tuition fees, sometimes for up to three months, during LOC submission. The board has called this a violation.
The board has directed all schools to:
- Charge only the official examination fee
- Avoid any unauthorised or additional payments
- Immediately stop such practices
CBSE will take any violation of these rules very seriously.
CBSE has explained that if a student completes the LOC process and pays the fee but later decides not to take the second exam, their main board exam results will be used as the final results.
Special Update for Class 12 Student-Athletes
In another update, CBSE has shared a special exam schedule for Class 12 students who missed their exams due to participation in national or international sports events.
- Exam Dates: April 11 to April 13, 2026
- Subjects Covered: Biology, Economics, English Core, Entrepreneurship, and Physical Education
This step ensures that student-athletes are not held back in their studies by their sports commitments.
Exam Day Guidelines
CBSE has also reminded everyone of some important exam instructions:
- Students must reach the exam centre before the reporting time.
- No entry after 10 AM
- Carry both the admit card and the school ID
- Use the first 15 minutes only to read the question paper.
