CBSE Issues New SOPs for Class 10 and 12 Practicals for Academic Year 2025-26

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued revised guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for conducting practical examinations, project work, and internal assessments for Classes 10 and 12 for the 2025–26 academic session. The instructions aim to bring consistency, accuracy, and timely completion of all assessment-related work in affiliated schools.

As per the CBSE circular dated December 1, 2025, schools must strictly follow these SOPs. The board has made it clear that the marks uploaded for practicals, projects, and internal assessments cannot be changed once submitted, making correct and timely evaluation essential.

Key Instructions for Schools

• Practical examinations must be held within the scheduled timelines:
  Regular schools: January 1 to February 14, 2026
  Winter-bound schools: November 6 to December 6, 2025

• Marks must be uploaded on the same day of the assessment through the CBSE portal.

• Schools must ensure that marks are entered correctly as per the maximum marks mentioned in the circular issued on November 17, 2025.

• Practical exams for students taking part in national or international sports events may be shifted, but no additional time beyond the official schedule will be given.

• Any student using unfair means must be reported immediately for strict action.

Class 10 Guidelines

• No external examiners will be appointed. Schools will conduct the practicals and maintain all related records.

• Practical answer books must be arranged and retained by the schools; they do not need to be sent to CBSE regional offices.

Class 12 Guidelines

• CBSE will appoint external examiners for practicals and project work. Schools cannot arrange substitutes locally.

• Both external and internal examiners must be present for assessments.

• External examiners must verify the laboratory setup a day before the assessment to ensure availability of equipment, chemicals, and other necessary items.

• Practical exams should be held in batches of 30 students, with sub-groups of 15 allowed for lab work and pen-and-paper tasks. All marks must be uploaded simultaneously.

• Schools must upload group photographs of each assessment batch showing students, internal and external examiners, and observers.

Additional Rules

• Attendance sheets must be correctly filled for every student.

• Answer books and award lists must be signed, scanned, and stored securely by schools for at least one year after the results are declared.

• Any violation of the SOPs may lead to cancellation of practicals and re-conduct under the supervision of CBSE.
  
  

CBSE has reiterated that all assessments must be carried out with complete transparency and accuracy to preserve the reliability of evaluation for Classes 10 and 12. Detailed circulars and SOPs are available on the CBSE Academic Branch website: cbseacademic.nic.in.