New Delhi, March 14: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced new regulations for students in Classes 10 and 12, stating that students will no longer be able to pass based on additional subjects. This decision comes as part of an effort to enhance the integrity of the examination system.
Under the new guidelines, students who are caught cheating or engaging in unfair practices during exams will be required to take compartment exams. This marks a significant shift from previous rules where students could pass based on their performance in additional subjects, even if they failed in their main subjects.
According to the CBSE, students must now achieve the required marks in their main subjects to be considered for passing. If a student’s results are withheld due to misconduct, they will not be able to rely on additional subject marks to pass.
The board has noted that previously, some students were able to pass by leveraging their scores in additional subjects, which compromised the fairness of the examination process. The new rules aim to make the evaluation process more transparent and stringent.
With these changes, students will need to focus more on their core subjects, as additional subjects will now only serve to enhance their skills and knowledge, rather than contribute to their overall scores.
In the 2025 examinations, 608 students in Class 10 were caught using unfair means, with 388 passing based on additional subject marks. Similarly, in Class 12, 132 out of 577 students benefited from this loophole. Starting in 2026, this leniency will be eliminated, as the board believes this will improve transparency in examinations and curb cheating.