CBSE LOC UPDATE FOR CLASS 10( 2026)
CBSE 2026 | Class X
Second Board Examination 2026:
Complete LOC Submission Guide
📅 LOC Phase 1: 18–31 March 2026
📚 Up to 3 Subjects
💰 India: ₹320/subject
🏫 NEP 2020 Two Board Policy
Background
1. Overview: CBSE Two Board Examination Policy
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced the Two Board Examination Policy for Class X, notified on 25 June 2025, in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This is a landmark student-friendly reform that gives Class X learners a second opportunity to improve their scores.
Under this policy, Class X students who appeared in the first Board Examination (held in February–March 2026) are eligible to sit for a Second Board Examination in May 2026 in up to three subjects. This is the first-ever time CBSE is holding a Second Board Examination for Class X under this two-exam model.
What is the LOC? The List of Candidates (LOC) is the official student data that schools must submit to CBSE before the examination. Without a valid LOC submission, no student can appear in the Second Board Examination. Schools are responsible for submitting accurate LOC data for all willing students.
Circular No. CBSE/LOC/X/2025-2026, dated 17 March 2026, explains the complete action schools must take to submit the LOC for the Second Board Examinations. All affiliated school principals are required to read and act on these instructions before the deadlines.
Quick Reference
2. Circular Details at a Glance
CBSE/LOC/X/2025-2026
17 March 2026
Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj
Controller of Examinations, CBSE
LOC for Class X Second Board Exam 2026
May 2026
Two Board Examination Policy (25 June 2025)
3 Subjects per Student
Important Dates
3. LOC Submission Schedule – All Phases
CBSE has announced a phased LOC submission schedule tied to the declaration of the first board examination results. Schools must note all deadlines carefully — submission windows close at 11:59:59 PM on the last working day of each phase.
Urgent: Phase 1 LOC submission is already OPEN from 18 March 2026 and closes on 31 March 2026. Schools should begin immediately. Students are advised to submit in Phase 1 to support CBSE's advance preparation, even if final subject choice is confirmed later.
| # | Activity | Schedule / Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | LOC Submission – 1st Phase | 18 March 2026 to 31 March 2026 | Submit early to help CBSE plan exam centres |
| Examination Fee Payment – 1st Phase | Next day after result declaration, open for 5 days | Pay online only after confirming result | |
| Phase 2 | LOC Submission – 2nd Phase | Next day after result declaration, open for 5 days | Students can also submit based on final result |
| Examination Fee Payment – 2nd Phase | Next day after result declaration, open for 5 days | LOC + Fee can be done together in Phase 2 | |
| Phase 3 | LOC Submission – 3rd Phase (with Late Fee) | 7th day from result declaration, open for 2 days | Late fee of ₹2000 applicable |
| Examination Fee Payment – 3rd Phase (with Late Fee) | 7th day from result declaration, open for 2 days | Both normal + ₹2000 late fee payable |
Pro Tip for Schools: CBSE recommends submitting LOC in Phase 1 (before result declaration). Students can finalize subject choice and pay the examination fee in Phase 2 once results are out. This two-step approach is ideal for advance planning.
Rules
4. Conditions to Appear in the Second Board Examination
The following conditions govern student eligibility and participation in the Class X Second Board Examination 2026:
✅ Conditions Permitting Appearance
- Appearing in the first Board Examination is mandatory for all students. No student can appear in the Second Exam without having sat for the First.
- All passed and eligible students may improve their performance in any of the three subjects from Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages.
- Students with a Compartment result in the first examination may appear in the Second Board Exam under the Compartment Category.
❌ Conditions Restricting Appearance
- If a student was absent in 3 or more subjects in the first examination, they are NOT eligible for the Second Board Exam. Such students must appear in the main examination next year in February.
- No new names can be added to the LOC of the 2nd examination — only students already registered in the first exam can appear.
- Subject changes from the first to second examination are NOT permitted, except as allowed by policy in the case of Mathematics.
- No correction in student data from the first examination to the second examination is allowed.
CWSN Candidates: Only candidates who were registered under the CWSN (Children with Special Needs) category in the first examination will receive extended facilities. No new candidate can be registered under CWSN in the Second Board Examinations.
Compartment Students – Special Note: Candidates who appeared in the main examination and were placed in compartment must re-submit their LOC afresh for the Second Board Exam, as their improvement subject criteria might change after the compartment result.
Middle East Students: Students from Middle East countries where examinations have been cancelled may submit their LOC after the declaration of result in 2nd Phase.
Who Can Apply
5. Eligibility Criteria – Complete Category List
The following is the complete list of categories eligible to appear in the CBSE Class X Second Board Examination 2026. Schools must verify each student falls into at least one category before submitting their LOC.
| S.No. | Category | Eligibility Condition |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Appeared in First Exam | Must have appeared in at least 3 subjects in the First Board Examination |
| (b) | Improvement (Passed) | Must have passed Class X – eligible to improve in up to 3 subjects |
| (c) | Compartment | Placed in Compartment category in the 2026 First Board Examination |
| (d) | Passed by 6th Subject | Passed Class X by replacing with the 6th subject |
| (e) | UFM Category 1 | Students placed under UFM (Unfair Means) Category 1 (if otherwise eligible) |
| (f) | Compartment 2025 | Students placed in Compartment category in the 2025 examinations |
| (g) | Not eligible (3+ absent) | Any student absent in 3 or more subjects in 2026 Main Exam is NOT eligible |
| (h) | Improvement (3 subjects) | Improvement category – up to 3 main subjects from Science, Math, Social Science, and Language |
| (i) | First/Third Chance Compartment | Students appearing in First or Third Chance Compartment examination |
| (j) | Compartment + Improvement | Combined Compartment and Improvement category students |
| (k) | Replacement Subject | Improvement for students who passed by replacing a subject |
| (l) | Sports Students | Sports students who were given special permission by the Board |
| (m) | Not eligible (Failed 3+) | Student who failed in 3 or more subjects in the First Examination – NOT eligible |
| (n) | ER Category | Students in the Essential Repeat (ER) category – NOT eligible; allowed only next year in main exam |
Key Ineligible Groups: (1) Students absent in 3 or more subjects. (2) Students who failed in 3 or more subjects. (3) Students placed in Essential Repeat (ER) category. These students must wait for next year's February main examination.
School Responsibilities
6. What Principals Must Do – Expectations from CBSE
CBSE has outlined specific expectations from Principals regarding communication with students and parents. The following actions are required:
- Guide students and parents about the rules of the Second Board Examination and advise that this facility should be availed only in genuine need.
- Inform students about the eligibility criteria and the schedule for LOC submission and fee payment.
- Inform students that examination centres will be limited in number, and their allotted centre may not be nearby.
- Make clear that no examination centre will be changed once allotted.
- Advise all students wishing to appear — for any reason — to submit LOC during 1st Phase to assist CBSE in advance preparation. Students may finalize subject choice and pay fee in Phase 2 after results.
- For compartment candidates: ensure they re-submit LOC afresh as their subject criteria may change.
- Ensure correct student data is collected and submitted accurately — no corrections are permitted after fee payment.
Principal's Responsibility: CBSE expects schools to read all guidelines carefully, collect correct student data, and submit the same correctly. Any delay in finalization of LOC data will attract late fee penalty.
Important Rule
7. Improvement in Internal Assessment – Not Allowed
⚠️ Key Rule – Read Carefully
There is NO facility for improvement of performance in Internal Assessment in the Second Board Examination. Internal Assessment is a yearlong exercise and cannot be repeated or revised through the second exam process. Only the written theory examination performance can be improved.
This is a critical point for students planning to appear in the Second Board Examination for score improvement. Any student hoping to improve their Internal Assessment marks must be informed that this is not possible under the current policy.
Exam Pattern
8. Syllabus & Scheme of Examination
The Second Board Examination will be conducted on the same syllabus as the first examination of the year. There will be no separate or reduced syllabus for the second exam. The scheme of examination also remains unchanged.
Subjects Available for Improvement: Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Languages (up to 3 subjects of the student's choice from these four categories). The same question paper pattern, marking scheme, and evaluation process applies as in the first examination.
Annexure-A
9. Fee Structure – Class X Second Board Examination 2026
The fee details are as per Annexure-A of the official circular. All fees must be paid in online mode only. No offline payments, direct bank deposits, or other modes will be accepted.
Normal Examination Fee (Per Candidate)
| Category | Per Subject (INR) | For 3 Subjects (INR) | Payment Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 India | ₹ 320 | ₹ 960 | Debit/Credit Card, UPI, Net Banking |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | ₹ 1,100 | ₹ 3,300 | Debit/Credit Card, SWIFT |
| 🌍 Other Countries | ₹ 2,200 | ₹ 6,600 | Debit/Credit Card, SWIFT |
Late Fee (Phase 3)
| Category | Normal Fee | Additional Late Fee | Total (3 Subjects, India) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Categories | As per normal fee above | ₹ 2,000 per candidate | ₹ 2,960 (₹960 + ₹2000) |
⚠️ Important Note on Fees
Fee will be accepted in online mode only as prescribed by CBSE. No fee in offline mode, direct deposit in bank account, etc. will be accepted. Any offline fee deposited by school/candidate will NOT be updated in school accounts and LOC will NOT be accepted.
For Schools Outside India: SWIFT updating may take 2–3 working days. Schools outside India are advised to complete the entire process — including fee payment — well before the last date to ensure timely processing.
Payment Process
10. Fee Payment Method & Late Fee Rules
A. Digital Payment Methods
- India: Debit Card / Credit Card / UPI / Net Banking
- Nepal & Other Countries: Debit Card / Credit Card / SWIFT
B. Before & After Fee Payment
- Schools can take a printout of LOC in the form of a checklist before making fee payment.
- Once fee is paid, the final LOC will be printed and no correction can be made in online or offline mode thereafter.
C. Late Fee Calculation Rules
| Scenario | Late Fee Applicable? | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Data finalized and fee paid on or before last date | ❌ No Late Fee | Normal processing |
| LOC data NOT finalized by last date | ✅ Late Fee Applicable | No extension will be given; late fee mandatory |
| Any delay in finalization of LOC data | ✅ Late Fee Applicable | Finalization is a separate step after data entry/upload |
Caution: Schools must ensure that LOC data is finalized in time and fees are deposited strictly as per schedule. Any delay in finalization of LOC data and depositing fee will attract the late fee penalty. No extension of the last date will be given under any circumstances.
D. Bank-Related Payment Issues
In case of bank-related transaction issues or non-updating of fees on the CBSE server, schools should immediately contact the respective bank. Keep the following information ready:
- Mode of payment
- Fee Reference Number
- Amount deposited
- Date of deposit
- Branch where amount was deposited
- Bank Reference Number (Transaction ID as reflected in Bank Account)
- Contact number of the school
Bank contact details are available on the CBSE website: www.cbse.gov.in
Quick Answers
11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the CBSE Two Board Examination Policy? ›
Under NEP 2020, CBSE introduced the Two Board Examination Policy (notified 25 June 2025). It allows Class X students to appear in a Second Board Examination in May 2026 to improve performance in up to 3 subjects — Science, Mathematics, Social Science, or Languages.
When is the LOC submission deadline for Phase 1? ›
Phase 1 LOC submission is open from 18 March 2026 to 31 March 2026. The portal closes at 11:59:59 PM on 31 March 2026. Schools should submit as early as possible.
Can a student who failed in 3 subjects appear in the Second Board Exam? ›
No. A student who failed in 3 or more subjects in the first examination is NOT eligible for the Second Board Examination. Similarly, a student absent in 3 or more subjects is also not eligible. Such students must appear in the main examination next year in February.
Can students change their subject for the Second Board Exam? ›
No. Subject changes from the first examination to the second examination are NOT permitted, except as specifically allowed by policy in the case of Mathematics. All other subjects remain the same.
What is the examination fee for Indian students? ›
For Indian students, the fee is ₹320 per subject, which means ₹960 for 3 subjects. If appearing in Phase 3 (late submission), an additional late fee of ₹2,000 per candidate is payable over and above the normal fee.
Can Internal Assessment marks be improved in the Second Board Exam? ›
No. There is absolutely no facility for improvement of Internal Assessment marks. Internal Assessment is a yearlong exercise and cannot be repeated. Only theory/written examination performance can be improved through the Second Board Examination.
Is Compartment result allowed in the Second Board Exam? ›
Yes. Students whose result in the first examination is Compartment are allowed to appear in the Second Board Examination under the Compartment Category. They must re-submit their LOC afresh, as their improvement subject criteria might change after the compartment result.
What syllabus will be used for the Second Board Exam? ›
The Second Board Examination will be conducted on the same syllabus as the first examination meant for the year. There is no special or reduced syllabus for the second exam.
Can a school add new students in the Second Board Exam LOC? ›
No. No new names can be added to the LOC of the 2nd examination. Only students who were already registered and appeared in the first board examination can be included.
What happens if fee is not paid on time? ›
If LOC data is not finalized and fee not paid by the last date of Phase 2, the school must pay an additional late fee of ₹2,000 per candidate during Phase 3. No extension of the last date will be given under any circumstances.
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