CBSE reiterates strict 75% Attendance Rule for 2025 Board Exam Eligibility

With an announcement, the Central Board of Secondary Education has issued a novel directive enforcing the 75% attendance requirement for class 10 and 12 students for the 2025 to 2026 session board examinations. The circular has made it compulsory for all the affiliated schools to implement the attendance controls as per rules 13 and 14 of the CBSE Examination Bye-Laws.

The board aims to clarify that students will not be permitted to attend the board examinations unless they meet the 75% attendance requirement, except in very limited cases that have been pre-approved and require a transparent process for validation and verification.

Key Requirements and Procedures

1. Students must adhere to an Attendance Limitation: Students in all classes will be required to maintain a minimum attendance of 75% on or before 1st January of the academic calendar. If this baseline attendance is not achieved, students will not be permitted to sit for board exams.

2. Valid Exemptions: Attendance below 75% will only be considered for condonation in serious exceptional cases.

   • Overdue illness with medical documentation • Death in the family • Attending events at the national or international level for recognised sports.

   • Other extraordinary circumstances with supporting documentation

3. Enforcement of Leave Policies: Applications for leave must be submitted and documented at the time leave is taken. Unattended documentation offered during unscheduled checks may result in students being marked as “dummy” candidates and subsequently barred from examination eligibility.

4. School Responsibilities: Schools must authenticate and update attendance registers in real time, ensuring accurate daily records. In cases of persistent non-attendance, parents must be formally informed through email or speed post, emphasizing the importance of regular attendance. All related correspondence, including leave records and communication with parents, must be carefully preserved and made available for examination or CBSE inspection when required.

1. Unannounced Inspections by CBSE: CBSE is allowed to visit and check the schools unannounced at any time. Any discrepancies with maintaining/monitoring attendance or following the mandates may lead to the students being disqualified or the school losing its affiliation.

All requests for exemption will be filed through the CBSE prescribed proforma and SOPs and will be submitted to the respective Regional Office by the 7th of January 2026.

Keep In Mind These Important Dates

The attendance cut-off date for board exam eligibility is January 1, 2026. Schools must submit condonation requests for attendance shortages by January 7, 2026. If any deficiencies are found in the submitted cases, they must be rectified by January 21, 2026. The final deadline for CBSE to issue approvals for such cases is February 7, 2026.

“Regular attendance is not only essential for board exam eligibility but also for building responsible and disciplined individuals,” observed Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations, CBSE.

The board has asked all affiliated schools to communicate with students and their parents concerning the updated policies as soon as possible and to observe openness for the entire academic cycle. No cases of late submission or erroneous paperwork will be entertained under any circumstances.