New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an important advisory for students, parents, and schools ahead of the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations, which are set to begin on February 17. This year, the exams will be conducted across India and 26 other countries, with participation from over 4.6 million students worldwide.
According to the advisory, students must reach their examination centers by 10:00 a.m. (IST). Entry to the exam centers will close strictly at that time, while the examinations themselves will begin at 10:30 a.m.
CBSE has urged students to plan their travel carefully, taking into account local traffic conditions, weather, distance from home to the exam center, and possible route diversions. The board cautioned that national and international summits, high-level meetings, and other major events may cause traffic congestion and delays in several cities.
Schools have been instructed to actively guide and support students and parents, ensuring that they are well-informed about exam-day protocols. Students are also advised to visit their exam centers in advance and plan their commute early for all examination days to avoid last-minute stress.
In the advisory, CBSE emphasized that students should leave home well in advance, as late entry will not be permitted under any circumstances.
Earlier this week, CBSE hosted a live webcast to explain the conduct of the 2026 board examinations. The session highlighted examination guidelines and the newly introduced On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheet evaluation. Principals, teachers, and other stakeholders from across the country participated in the webcast.
CBSE Examination Controller Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj addressed key aspects of the exams, including the evaluation process, benefits of digital assessment, the introduction of two board exams for Class 10, and the role of parents during the examination period.
“This examination will test our knowledge, preparedness, accountability, and decision-making,” Dr. Bhardwaj said. “It is essential that everyone involved is fully aware of the rules, policies, and standard operating procedures.”
With exams being held simultaneously in multiple countries and involving millions of students, CBSE has reiterated the importance of discipline, punctuality, and careful planning to ensure a smooth and fair examination process.