CBSE Board Exams 2026: CBSE announces key changes to LOC submission for 2025-26 board exams

CBSE LOC Guidelines

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued guidelines for the submission of the List of Candidates (LOC) for the 2025-26 academic session, introducing several significant changes for schools and students of Class 10 and 12. The LOC is a mandatory process for schools to register eligible students for the board examinations. Only those students whose names are submitted through the online LOC portal will be allowed to appear for the exams.

New Two-Board Exam Policy and APAAR ID

In a major shift, CBSE will introduce a two-board examination policy for Class 10, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. This change is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to reduce exam-related stress and offer students more flexibility. The first Class 10 board exam is scheduled for mid-February 2026, and a second, optional exam for improvement will be held in May. Students can choose to retain the better score in each subject. All Class 10 students must be included in the LOC for the first examination.

Another key change is the mandatory linking of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID with the LOC. The APAAR ID is a unique 12-digit digital identifier for students across India, designed to consolidate their academic records. Schools can only fill out the LOC for students who have an APAAR ID, with schools outside of India being an exception.

Important Dates and Fees for LOC Submission

Schools can begin the online submission of the LOC in September 2025, and the last date to submit without a late fee is October 2025. The registration process for private candidates will begin in October 2025.

The examination fees for the 2025-26 session are as follows:

• Indian Schools: Rs. 1,500 per candidate for up to five subjects.
• Additional Subjects: Rs. 300 per subject.
• Practical Exam Fee: Rs. 150 per subject.
• Late Fee: An additional Rs. 2,000 per candidate is applicable for submissions after the deadline.
• Visually impaired students are exempt from paying exam fees.

Schools must ensure that all data, including names, subjects, and other particulars, are entered correctly, as there is generally no option for correction after submission. CBSE has also released specific circulars and a dedicated portal to ensure the inclusion of Children with Special Needs (CwSN). Schools must utilize the CWSN portal to upload documents and request examination-related concessions and exemptions for these students.