The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that Class 10 students must appear in the first board exam starting in 2026. Students who fail to take at least three subjects in this first exam will be put in the "essential repeat" category. These students will not be allowed to appear in the second board exam and must wait to retake exams the next year. CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said, "It is mandatory for all the students to appear in the first board examination. All passed and eligible students will be allowed to improve their performance in any of the three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science and languages." He added, "If a student has not appeared in three or more subjects in the first examination, then he or she will not be allowed to appear in the second examination. Such students will be placed in the 'Essential Repeat' category and can take the examination only next year in the main examinations in the month of February next year." This clarification was issued after some students requested exemption from the first exam due to various reasons. However, CBSE has made it clear that no such exemption is allowed.