CBSE 10th LOC Submissions for Second Board Exams 2026 Begins, Check Guidelines, Dates, Fees and More

Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE will begin the submission of List of Candidates, LOC for CBSE 10th 2nd Board Exams 2026. Schools are required to update the LOC on the official portal starting March 18, 2026. Check the CBSE 10th LOC Submission Guidelines, Dates, Fees, etc. for Second Board Exams 2026. Following the National Education Policy, NEP 2020 the board will hold a Second Board Examination in May 2026. This exam is a great opportunity for students to improve their marks in up to three main subjects, such as Science, Math, and Social Science. This step is meant to lower the pressure of a single final exam and give students a real second chance to perform better.

Schools and students must pay close attention to the dates for submitting the List of Candidates (LOC) to participate. Students who appeared in the first exam and meet the other criteria are eligible to apply. The higher score between the first and second exams will be the one officially recorded in the student's result. This guide provides all the necessary details, from eligibility rules and important deadlines to the fee structure for this new optional examination.

What is the CBSE Second Board Examination?

Introduced under the Two Board Examination Policy, this second exam gives Class 10 students the opportunity to improve their performance in up to three subjects. These examinations are scheduled to take place in May 2026.

Check: Class 10 CBSE Results for Feb Exam by April 20, Should You Appear for 2nd Board?

Important Dates for LOC Submission (2026)

To participate, schools must submit a List of Candidates (LOC) through a three-phase process:

Note: The digital submission lines close at 11:59:59 PM on the last working day of each schedule.

CBSE Second Board Examination Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

Not every student is eligible for the second exam. Below are the mandatory requirements:

• Mandatory First Appearance: Students must have appeared in the first Board examination.
• Minimum Subjects: A student must have appeared in at least three subjects during the first exam.
• Improvement Subjects: Students can improve their performance in a maximum of three subjects from: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages.
• Compartment Students: Students placed in the "Compartment" category are eligible to appear.
• Exclusions: Students in the "Essential Repeat" (ER) category or those who missed three or more subjects in the first exam are not eligible.

Examination Fee Structure

Fees must be paid online only via Debit/Credit Card, UPI, or Net Banking.

A Late Fee of Rs. 2,000 per candidate will be charged if the LOC is not finalized within the regular window.

Key Guidelines for Students and Parents

• Syllabus: The exam will follow the same syllabus as the first board examination for the year 2026.
• No Internal Assessment Improvement: There is no facility to improve internal assessment marks as these are year-long exercises.
• Exam Centres: Centres will be limited; students should be prepared for the possibility that their allotted centre may not be nearby. Once allotted, the centre cannot be changed.
• Data Accuracy: No corrections to student data or changes in subjects (except for specific Mathematics policies) are allowed between the first and second exams.

Action Required by Schools

Principals are advised to encourage students wishing to appear to submit their LOC during the 1st Phase to help CBSE with advanced preparations. However, students can make their final decision to pay the fee after their initial results are declared.

The CBSE Class 10 Second Board Exam offers a valuable opportunity under NEP 2020 for score improvement in up to three core subjects. Adherence to the LOC submission deadlines and eligibility rules is crucial for all interested students.