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CBSE Board Exam 2026: No Extra Subject Choice for Individual Private Students in Class 12 - Full Details Provided

CBSE Eliminates Additional Subject Choice for Private Students Without Prior Notice; Read More in the Ensuing Article.

CBSE Board Exam 2026: Private Class 12 Students Not Allowed to Choose Extra Subjects; Read the Fine...
CBSE Board Exam 2026: Private Class 12 Students Not Allowed to Choose Extra Subjects; Read the Fine Print

CBSE Board Exam 2026: No Extra Subject Choice for Individual Private Students in Class 12 - Full Details Provided

In a move that has left many students feeling anxious and uncertain, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided that private candidates will no longer be allowed to choose additional subjects in the 2026 Board Exams. This sudden change, announced without prior notice or official explanation, has sparked a wave of protests and demands from students across the country.

Many students had planned their academic and career paths around this option, including preparing for entrance exams like JEE. For those preparing for JEE and other competitive exams, this decision comes as a significant blow, potentially shutting the doors for admissions, campus placements, and entry-level jobs.

Students are demanding fee reimbursements, subject credit transfers, or special provisions to avoid academic and financial waste. Transitioning back to earlier subjects is practically impossible due to advanced syllabi, closed admissions, and academic calendars already underway. The deadline for filling the application form with a late fee will begin on October 3 and continue till October 11, but for many students, the last date to fill the form was September 30.

Queries to the student helpline are met with generic, scripted responses that offer no real solutions. Many students report that calls to the student helpline go unanswered, leaving them in a state of limbo. Students from financially vulnerable backgrounds and those carrying "RT" remarks feel abandoned due to the lack of responsive support from the helpline.

For lower-middle-class families, these fees represent hard-earned savings that cannot be recovered. Some students had enrolled in coaching for new subject combinations, with fees often exceeding ₹1 lakh. Emails to the student helpline receive no replies, adding to the frustration of the affected students.

Equally overlooked are students carrying an "RT" remark on their marksheets, who saw the additional subject category as a credible pathway to clear this "RT" and repair their academic record. The CBSE Board Exam 2026 no longer allows private students to take an additional subject in Class 12, leaving these students in a precarious position.

Students who enrolled in coaching and courses based on the previously available subject combinations want to continue under the same framework without being forced to restart or shift tracks mid-year. They are asking for all policy changes to be announced clearly and well in advance, with enough time to adjust decisions about admissions, subject choices, and career plans.

The unrest among students is palpable, and the CBSE is under increasing pressure to address the situation. As thousands of students' futures hang in the balance, it is hoped that a solution will be found soon to alleviate the anxiety and uncertainty caused by this sudden change.

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