The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released detailed participation data for the Class X second board examination following the closure of registrations, including the late fee window on April 22, 2026. The figures provide a comprehensive view of student participation under the newly introduced two-examination system.
Revised Assessment Framework
The board stated that the second examination forms part of its revised assessment framework aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. This initiative allows students multiple opportunities to improve performance and address compartment cases within the same academic cycle.
Registration Figures Across Categories
A total of 6,68,854 candidates have registered for the second board examination based on the submitted list of candidates. Among them, 85,285 students are appearing under the compartment category, while 5,25,655 candidates have applied for improvement of marks. Additionally, 57,914 candidates have opted for both compartment and improvement categories. These figures reflect combined participation across different eligibility conditions permitted under the board's examination scheme.
The registration process was conducted in phases, concluding with a late fee submission window that ended on April 22, 2026. All submissions were processed as per the notified schedule.
Gender and Candidature Breakdown
Gender-wise distribution shows that 2,66,209 female candidates and 4,02,643 male candidates have registered for the examination. Two candidates have been recorded under the 'other' category, bringing the total count to 6,68,854.
Among regular candidates, subject selection patterns indicate varied participation. A total of 1,92,508 students have opted to appear in one subject, while 2,79,227 candidates have registered for two subjects. Another 1,97,119 students will take examinations in three subjects.
Private candidates account for a smaller segment of registrations. Data shows that 8,323 candidates are appearing for a third chance, while 1,442 candidates are taking the examination for the first time as private applicants. The total number of private candidates stands at 9,765.
Subject-Wise Enrolment Details
Subject data indicates that Science has the highest number of candidates, with 4,74,491 registrations. Mathematics Standard follows with 3,68,843 candidates, while Social Science has recorded 1,54,619 registrations. Mathematics Basic has 1,78,878 candidates enrolled, and English Language and Literature accounts for 98,536 candidates. Other subjects include a wide range of regional and foreign languages, as well as specialised courses, each with comparatively lower enrolment figures.
Language subjects such as Hindi Course-A have 29,860 candidates, while Sanskrit and French, among others, also contribute to the overall subject distribution. Additional niche subjects, including music, painting, and emerging fields like artificial intelligence, have recorded minimal participation.
Examination Schedule and Result Timeline
The second board examination is scheduled to be conducted from May 15, 2026, to May 21, 2026. The board has completed all preparatory procedures, including the release of the date sheet and processing of candidate data.
Results for the second examination will be declared by the end of June 2026 in accordance with the examination bye-laws. The board confirmed that final passing certificates and merit certificates will be issued only after the declaration of these results.
Students who appeared in the first examination and do not opt for the second examination can continue to use their earlier results for admission purposes. For those appearing again, the best score obtained across both examinations will be reflected in the final mark sheet cum certificate.
