CBSE Releases Crucial Guidelines for 2026 Board Exams: Schools Must Submit Candidate Lists by September 30

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out comprehensive guidelines for all affiliated schools in preparation for the 2026 Class 10 and 12 board examinations. In a significant announcement, the Board has called for the accurate and timely submission of the List of Candidates (LOC) — a mandatory step that ensures students’ eligibility to appear for the exams. This submission process holds immense importance, as students who are not included in the LOC will not be permitted to sit for the board examinations.

One of the key updates this year is the implementation of the two-board examination policy for Class 10, introduced for the first time in the 2025-26 academic session. As per CBSE, “Every Class 10 student must be included in the LOC, and participation in the February 2026 examination will be compulsory.” A second exam opportunity is scheduled for May 2026, and schools are advised to brief students and parents accordingly.

What Schools Need to Know and Do

CBSE has instructed all school heads to ensure meticulous verification of student details — including names, date of birth, parent names, subject codes, and categories — before submission. These details must align with the student admission registers and the CBSE’s prescribed Scheme of Studies. “No corrections will be permitted once the deadlines have passed,” the Board warned.

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The LOC data will directly feed into the generation of admit cards, preparation of examination records, and issuance of certificates. Therefore, any discrepancies, delays, or incomplete data could result in severe consequences — including students being barred from the examination or results being withheld.

Schools must also submit APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) IDs for all Indian students. However, CBSE has exempted overseas schools from this requirement. Furthermore, photographs must follow digital upload guidelines and fees must be paid through digital methods only.

Important Dates and Fee Structure

CBSE has laid out strict timelines for LOC submission and associated fee payments:

Regular LOC submission window (India – Digital):

▸ Start: August 29, 2025 (Friday)

▸ End: September 30, 2025 (Tuesday)

With late fee (India – Digital):

▸ Start: October 3, 2025 (Friday)

▸ End: October 11, 2025 (Saturday)

LOC submission deadlines for other categories:

▸ Nepal & Other Countries follow the same timeline as India

▸ Challan-based payments (India): Deadline ends on September 22, 2025 (Normal), and October 8, 2025 (Late)

Digital Payment Window: Open until finalisation of LOC

Class 12 Practical Fee:

▸ ₹160 per subject (India)

▸ ₹175 per subject (Nepal)

▸ ₹375 per subject (Other Countries)

Migration Certificates: Available online post-results; hard copies upon request

Fee Exemption: Students with visual impairment in both Class 10 and 12 are exempt from exam fees

CWSN (Children With Special Needs) Support

CBSE continues to support students with special needs and has introduced a dedicated portal for uploading CWSN data. All entries for these students must be completed before the general LOC deadline, and “no corrections will be permitted after submission.”

New Policy Highlights for 2025-26

Here are the major updates applicable from the upcoming academic session:

• Class 10 students must take the February 2026 exam to qualify for the optional second attempt in May
• APAAR ID submission is mandatory for Indian schools
• CWSN data must be uploaded via the new portal before the deadline
• Only limited corrections will be allowed via the Data Verification Slip, which will be generated in October 2025

Additional School Responsibilities

CBSE has asked all school principals to organise awareness sessions for parents and students to explain the new two-exam policy and LOC requirements. It has also instructed schools to register on the OASIS and HPE portals, especially newly affiliated institutions.

Moreover, schools must ensure that subject combinations strictly follow CBSE’s Scheme of Studies. The Board clarified that it does not recognise fixed “streams” like science, commerce, or arts. Students can choose subjects freely as long as the school is authorised to offer them. Invalid combinations will trigger system errors and must be corrected before submission.

Lastly, schools are advised to ensure that the number of students being sponsored aligns with their teacher strength, as this data will be used to appoint evaluators for board exam duties.