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The Central Board of Secondary Education just switched up the 2026 board exam schedule. They’ve pushed back the papers that were meant for March 3. CBSE says they had to make this change for a few reasons. They’ve told all schools to spread the word fast, so students and parents aren’t left confused.

Here’s what’s new: Class 10 exams set for March 3 will now be held on March 11. This shift covers a bunch of subjects—languages like Tibetan, German, Bhoti, Bodo, Tangkhul, Japanese, Bhutia, Spanish, Kashmiri, Mizo, Bahasa Melayu, plus NCC, Elements of Business, and Elements of Book Keeping and Accountancy. All these Class 10 papers move to March 11.

For Class 12, only the Legal Studies exam is changing. It moves from March 3 to April 10. So, Class 12 exams will wrap up a day later than planned.

Otherwise, nothing else is different. Class 10 board exams still run from February 17 to March 18. Class 12 exams now finish on April 10. Both sets of exams start in the morning at 10:30 am, just like they always have.

CBSE laid out its exam plan back in September, then tweaked it a bit in November. This year, about 4.5 million students will take these exams in 204 different subjects across Classes 10 and 12.

There’s also a big change for Class 10: two exam sessions. The first is mandatory, from February 17 to March 6. The second, which is optional, runs from May 15 to June 1. If you sit both, they’ll count your best score. That takes some pressure off—you don’t have to get everything perfect the first time. It’s a big shift from the old “one shot” exam routine.

In a strong message on student safety and campus integrity, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has suspended the affiliation of G D Goenka High School, Sohna, Gurugram, for one academic year (2026–27), citing serious violations of affiliation norms related to infrastructure sharing and campus security.

According to the CBSE’s inspection report, the school was operating from a campus shared with two other institutions, with no proper physical segregation or pucca boundary wall. Inspectors found that multiple institutions were running from the same building across all floors, while a university programme was functioning on the top floor of the same structure—an arrangement the Board said poses clear risks to school students.

In its official order, CBSE underlined that a school campus must be fully secured and inaccessible to outsiders. Sharing infrastructure without clear demarcation, the Board warned, can expose children to unwarranted interactions, bullying, harassment and safety threats, especially when higher education institutions operate from the same premises.

The Board also noted that while the school made efforts to respond to issues flagged during inspection, it was not in a position to segregate the institutions within a short timeframe. Taking what it described as a “sympathetic view in the interest of students’ future”, CBSE opted for a time-bound suspension rather than permanent disaffiliation.

Under the order:

• The school’s affiliation stands suspended for the 2026–27 session
• No admissions will be allowed in Classes 9 and 11 during this period
• Existing students in Classes 9 to 12 can continue their education

The school must disengage all other institutions, ensure exclusive use of the building and playground, and create separate entry and exit points

The CBSE's order to the institution gives the clear indication to other CBSE affiliated institutions that it has no tolerance for violations of safety related to the care of children who attend an CBSE affiliated institution.

On Wednesday, at the school's annual sports meet held at the Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) in Sundargarh district, a class eleven student named Jaydeep Sagar Beka collapsed and died in a relay race. The death has raised further suspicions regarding health and emergency preparedness issues surrounding most of the residential schools in the country.

As per information gathered by staff members of EMRS from the incident site, since Jaydeep was running in the relay race and was feeling ill while running his first 100 m, he carried on with it and completed it; however, he withdrew from it as he was feeling dizzy and nauseated after completing it. When he was seated on a chair nearby, he suddenly collapsed.

As soon as the collapse happened, the staff members started attempts to bring him back through cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and took him to a nearby government medical college. The death of the student was verified by the medical team that provided care. This was the second incident in which a school-age athlete died in circumstances related to taking part in an athletic event in Odisha.

The school staff attempted to resuscitate the student using CPR but transported him to the closest government medical college, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival by physicians; this confirmation of Jaydeep's death was made by a teacher.

The death of this student during an athletic competition in Odisha is the second occurrence within one month, and has caused alarm among both parents and education officials. In December 2021, a 10th-grade boy attending Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) collapsed during participation in a football game and subsequently died; this event has brought to light an alarming trend that has developed at many residential schools in Odisha.

Jaydeep was described by his educators as being an exceptionally disciplined and intelligent young man who enrolled at EMRS only six months ago. The suddenness of his passing has created a sense of disbelief among both his colleagues and educators.

The local administration has launched an investigation in pursuit of a complete overview of events surrounding this instance; specifically whether sufficient medical provisions, health examination processes and emergency response procedures existed during the Annual Sports Meeting. Officials will also be investigating whether standardised protocols for safety compliance were followed.

With more than 7.17 lakh students currently attending school in Gujarat, it can be concluded that the interest of parents to enroll their children into the various types of merit-based education offered through state-run residential school systems continues to grow, as evidenced by the number of students who registered to take part in the Common Entrance Test (CET) on January 31st.

The Common Entrance Test (CET) is an important part of Class VI admission into the residential schools of Gnanshakti, Rakshashakti, and also establishes eligibility for the Chief Minister's Gnansetu Merit Scholarship.

According to the figures released from the Government of Gujarat, there was a 89,000-student increase in the number of participants this year compared to last year. This significant increase in the number of students taking part in this year's Common Entrance Test (CET) has been attributed to the increased public awareness of government assisted educational institutions (schools), which provide structured academic support, along with residential and financial assistance, primarily targeted toward meritorious students from rural and lower-income, and economically challenged communities.

The introduction of the Common Educational Test (CET) in the 2023–24 academic year has provided one location for students in Gujarat to find and apply for all education schemes offered by Gujarat thus far. The CET results will also be accepted at all Model Eklavya Residential Schools (EMRS) and Sainik Schools administered by the Gujarat State Tribal Education Society for the 2025–26 academic year.

As of December 24, students who have completed the 1st to 5th Grades at government or charter schools are eligible to take the CET to apply for admittance into Grade Six. Successful candidates will also be eligible for the Gnansetu Merit Scholarship, which provides financial support from Grade Six to Grade Twelve, thereby minimizing the risk of students dropping out of school during the secondary education phase. Students who studied at a self-financing institution can receive up to 25% from the reserved seats of Rakshashakti Schools depending on the CET Merit.

According to the State Exam Board the deadline for Online Registration for CET was 2nd December and Closed on 24th Dec. The CET will also be conducted in 2,729 testing centres over 23,898 testing blocks in the state of Gujarat, showing the extent to which the state is aiming to build a system of equal opportunity for public school access through a transparent and merit-based process.

Serious allegations of physical and mental abuse of students have surfaced at St. Martin’s School in Jatakheda village, triggering protests by parents and local organisations and prompting swift action by the district administration.

According to complaints lodged by parents, students who failed to complete homework were allegedly subjected to degrading punishment, including being made to stand partially unclothed in cold weather. Photographs purportedly showing the students circulated on social media on Friday, drawing widespread attention and outrage.

Parents alleged that children were forced to perform menial tasks such as cleaning the school premises, sweeping, watering plants, and picking stones, and were beaten or threatened if they made mistakes. Some students reportedly told parents and local representatives that the alleged abuse had been ongoing since November.

Students’ Statements Under Probe

Seventh-grade students, during interactions with parents and local representatives, alleged that a school guard identified as Amar Singh Verma physically assaulted them and threatened them with punishment. They further alleged that these actions were carried out on the instructions of Principal Samreen Khan. The school driver, Shibu Jafri, was also accused of assaulting students and threatening to deduct marks from their academic projects.

Additional allegations included restrictions on students’ personal religious practices, which further fuelled anger among parents and community groups.

Protests and Administrative Response

Following the emergence of the allegations, parents, accompanied by members of local organisations, gathered at the school premises on Friday and staged a protest. Slogans were raised, prompting the deployment of police personnel from Mandi police station, along with revenue and education officials, to maintain law and order.

District Education Officer S.S. Tomar visited the school and conducted a preliminary inquiry, during which students were questioned individually. Officials said the inquiry found the allegations to be prima facie substantiated.

Staff Removed, School Fined

Based on the findings, the district administration ordered the immediate dismissal of the school’s principal, the guard, and the driver. The school management was also fined ₹1 lakh and directed to deposit the amount within seven days.

CSP Abhinandana Sharma confirmed that a formal complaint has been received and said legal action will follow after completion of the police investigation.

The incident has raised serious concerns about student safety, disciplinary practices, and oversight in private schools, with parents demanding stricter monitoring to prevent such incidents in the future

Thousands of school children in Kamrup Metropolitan district will get a much-needed break from early morning classes and schools in the district will remain closed for a week, starting December 31, 2025, as authorities move to protect students from the harsh winter conditions.

With consent from the Assam government, the decision was announced by the Office of the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) under Samagra Shiksha, following approval from the District Commissioner, Kamrup Metropolitan. Schools will remain shut till January 6, 2026, reopening once temperatures show signs of easing.

Guwahati and surrounding areas have been witnessing a sharp drop in temperatures, making it increasingly difficult—especially for younger children—to cope with cold mornings. Officials said the closure was a precautionary step, with student health and safety taking priority over routine schedules. “The well-being of children comes first in such extreme weather,” sources in the education department said.

Heads of schools have been directed to immediately inform parents, students, and teaching and non-teaching staff about the closure. They have also been instructed to ensure that no academic, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities are conducted during this period. Schools are expected to use the break for basic maintenance and planning so that classes can resume smoothly once they reopen.

Private schools, meanwhile, have been left to take their own call based on local conditions. However, many are likely to follow the government’s lead as the cold wave continues to affect large parts of the region.

The move mirrors similar steps taken across the country, with several states such as Uttar Pradesh and Delhi extending winter vacations or delaying school timings due to cold weather, dense fog, and pollution. In Assam too, school hours had been adjusted earlier in response to weather-related challenges.

Parents have largely welcomed the decision, relieved that children will not have to brave the cold, though some remain concerned about possible disruptions to the academic calendar. Authorities have advised families to stay alert to winter-related health issues, including respiratory infections and hypothermia, particularly among young children. Further updates will be issued if weather conditions change.