CBSE: New rules for submitting LOC for board exams 2025-26 issued, school heads and students must read..
CBSE Board Exams 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released guidelines for submission of List of Candidates (LOC) for the academic session 2025-26. Many important changes have been made in it. These changes are related to the submission of two board exams, APAAR ID and LOC, for class 10th. All concerned school heads and students must know these changes.
LOC is a mandatory process for schools to register eligible students for board exams. Only those students will be allowed to appear in the exam whose names have been submitted through the online LOC portal.
Two-board exam policy and APAAR ID for 10th
CBSE is going to implement a two-board exam policy for class 10 from the academic year 2025-26. This change is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to reduce exam-related stress and provide more flexibility to students.
The first board exam is scheduled in mid-February 2026, and the second, optional exam for improvement will be held in May. Students can choose to retain better marks in each subject. All Class 10 students will have to submit the LOC for the first exam.
Apaar ID must be linked to LOC.
The board has said that the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID will have to be mandatorily linked to LOC. Schools can fill LOC only for those students who have APAAR ID, with schools outside India being an exception. Apaar ID is a unique 12-digit digital identity for students across India, designed to consolidate their academic records.
Guidelines for schools and students with special needs
Schools will have to ensure that all information, including name, subject, and other details, is entered correctly, as there is usually no option for correction after submission. CBSE has also released specific circulars and a dedicated portal for the inclusion of children with special needs (CWSN). Schools will have to use the CWSN portal to upload documents for these students and request exam concessions and exemptions.
Important dates and fees for LOC submission
Schools can start submitting LOC online in September 2025. The deadline for submission without a late fee is October 2025. The registration process for private candidates will start in October 2025. The exam fee for session 2025-26 is as follows:
Indian Schools: Rs 1,500 per candidate for up to five subjects.
Additional Subject: Rs 300 per subject.
Practical Exam Fee: Rs 150 per subject.
Late Fee: An additional fee of Rs 2,000 per candidate will be payable if applied after the last date.
Visually impaired students are exempted from the exam fee.
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