New Delhi: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) has officially released the timetable for the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) examinations for the year 2026. The announcement brings much-needed clarity to lakhs of students in India and abroad who are preparing for the upcoming board exams.
As per CISCE, approximately 2.6 lakh students will appear for the ICSE Class X exams, while nearly 1.5 lakh candidates will sit for the ISC Class XII examinations in 2026.
Exam Schedule
The ICSE Class X examinations will commence on February 17, 2026, and conclude on March 30, 2026. The ISC Class XII exams will start earlier, on February 12, 2026, and continue until April 6, 2026.
The council has continued its practice of providing students with 15 minutes of reading time before they start writing their papers.
Announcing the schedule, Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary of CISCE, described the release of the dates as “a moment of focus, anticipation and aspiration for every learner.” He highlighted that the timetable has been thoughtfully prepared to strike a balance between academic pressure and adequate preparation time, enabling students to approach each exam with clarity and confidence.
Key Dates for ICSE (Class X) 2026
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Feb 17: English Language (Paper 1)
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Feb 20: Literature in English (Paper 2)
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Feb 21: Art Paper 1
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Feb 23: Group III Elective
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Feb 26: Hindi
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Feb 27–28: Art Papers 2 & 3
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Mar 2: Mathematics
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Mar 6: Indian & Foreign Languages
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Mar 7: Art Paper 4
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Mar 9–13: Physics, Chemistry, Biology
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Mar 16–18: History & Civics, Geography
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Mar 23: Group III Electives
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Mar 25–30: Group II Electives (Commercial Studies, French, Economics, Environmental Science)
Key Dates for ISC (Class XII) 2026
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Feb 12: Psychology
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Feb 13–14: English Language, Art Paper 3, Legal Studies
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Feb 16–20: Literature in English, Home Science, Accounts
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Feb 21–25: Mass Media, Chemistry, History
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Feb 27–28: Commerce, Art Paper 1
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Mar 2–9: Environmental Science, Biology, Mathematics
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Mar 11–14: Business Studies, Language Papers, Art Paper 2
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Mar 16–23: Physics, Physical Education, Economics, Biotechnology
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Mar 25–30: Sociology, Computer Science, Political Science
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Apr 1–6: Elective English, Hospitality Management, Art Paper 5, Geography
Students have been advised to regularly check the official CISCE website for any updates or modifications to the schedule.
