The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has rolled out strict new regulations for Class 10th and 12th board exams for the academic session 2025–26. Here’s what’s changed and why every student, parent, and school needs to pay close attention.The Big Change: 75% Attendance is Now MandatoryNew Mandate: To be eligible for the board exams in 2025–26, students must have at least 75% attendance.Issuance: This rule was enforced through an official CBSE circular on August 4, 2025.Reason: CBSE tightened the rules because some schools and students were ignoring previous attendance norms. The aim is to curb “dummy students” (students enrolled only for exam purposes) and reinforce academic discipline.What Happens If Attendance Is Low?If a student's attendance falls below 75%, they cannot appear for board exams as per Rule 13 and 14 of CBSE regulations.Exceptions: In rare cases such as:Serious illness (with doctor’s certificate)Death in the immediate family (with documents)Participation in national/international sports competitions (with proof)All paperwork must be submitted on time to request an exemption.Schools & Parents: Your ResponsibilitiesSchools must inform both students and parents about this rule at the session’s start.If a student’s attendance dips, schools are required to send a written warning via registered post or email to parents.For medical leave, a recognized doctor’s certificate is mandatory. Other exceptional circumstances also demand official proof.Attendance Calculation TimelineCut-off Date: Attendance will be counted until January 1, 2026.Submission: Cases of insufficient attendance must be reported to CBSE by January 7, 2026.No Late Requests: Afterwards, no applications for exemption will be accepted—even if a student claims to have completed their attendance late.Surprise Inspections & School RecognitionCBSE can now conduct unannounced inspections at any school.If irregularities or manipulations are found in attendance records, the school’s recognition can be cancelled.This means students might be disqualified from appearing in examinations if the school is de-listed.Records must be updated daily and signed by both the teacher and the principal.
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