CBSE Board Exam 2026 Registration for Private Candidates
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially started the registration process for private candidates of Class 10 and Class 12 for the upcoming CBSE Board Exams 2026. The application window opened on 09 September 2025, and this opportunity is for all those students who want to appear in the 2026 board examinations but are not part of a regular CBSE school this year.
The exams will be conducted in February-April 2026, along with the regular CBSE board exams. This is an important chance for students who need to appear in compartment exams, improvement exams, or as private candidates due to other reasons.
In this blog, you will get all details about eligibility, dates, fees, application process, rules, and guidelines for both Class 10 and Class 12 private candidates. The information is taken directly from the official CBSE notification, but explained in very simple words for easy understanding.
Read More:
- CBSE Class 10 Board Exam Registration 2026
- CBSE Class 10 Board Exams To Be Conducted Twice A Year From 2026
CBSE Board Exams 2026 Key Highlights
Candidates can check the important points of CBSE Board Exams 2026 application here:
| Overview | Details |
| Event name | CBSE Board Exams 2026 Application |
| Board name | Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) |
| Exam name | CBSE Board Examination |
| Academic year | 2025-26 |
| Official website | cbse.gov.in |
| Classes | 10
12 |
| Application dates | Normal: September 9 – 30, 2025
With late fee: October 3 – 11, 2025 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Application fee | INR 320
Additional late fee: INR 2,000 |
Eligibility Criteria for Registration for Private Candidates
CBSE has allowed different categories of students from both Class 10 and Class 12 to appear as private candidates. These categories are mostly the same for both classes.
Common Eligibility for Class 10 and 12:
- Students of the 2024 – 25 session who were declared Essential Repeat in 2025 results.
- Students of the 2024 – 25 session who were placed in the Compartment in Main or Supplementary Exam 2025 (second chance compartment).
- Students who were declared Fail or Essential Repeat in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025.
- Passed-out students of 2025 who want to appear for the Improvement of Performance in one or more subjects.
Additional Note for Class 10 Students:
- Students who could not appear in the Class 10 exam in 2025 due to medical reasons (except shortage of attendance) can also apply.
- Students with two compartments can choose to appear in 5/6/7 subjects by selecting the Essential Repeat category while filling the form.
Additional Note for Class 12 Students:
- Candidates who passed earlier but now want to appear for an additional subject.
- Students of the Delhi region who are visually impaired can take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) an exemption from laboratory practical in certain subjects.
This clear division helps students understand whether they are eligible to apply as a private candidate.
Important Dates for CBSE Private Candidates Registration 2026
The registration schedule has been clearly announced by CBSE. Students should apply before the last date to avoid late fees.
| Activity | Dates |
| Online form submission begins | 09 September 2025 (Tuesday) |
| Last date for submission without a late fee | 30 September 2025 (Tuesday) up to 11:59 PM |
| Submission with a late fee of ₹2000 | 03 October 2025 (Friday) to 11 October 2025 (Saturday) up to 11:59 PM |
Students can read the complete notification from here - Submission of exam forms by private candidates for class-X and Submission of exam forms by private candidates for class-XII
Application Procedure for CBSE Registration for Private Candidates 2026
The registration process is completely online and can be done through the official CBSE portal.
Steps for Both Classes (General Process)
- Visit the official CBSE website: https://www.cbse.gov.in.
- Click on the Private Candidate Exam Form 2026 option.
- Choose your category (compartment, improvement, additional subject, etc.).
- Enter your details like Roll Number, Year of Passing, and personal information.
- Upload your passport-size photo and signature in JPG format (size < 40 KB).
- Select your subjects from the auto-generated options.
- Choose the city for the examination centre carefully.
- Make the payment of the application fee online (net banking/ debit/credit card/ UPI).
- Save the confirmation page and take a printout of it.
Detailed Steps for Class 10 Private Candidates
- Applicants are required to enter their previous roll number, year of passing/failing, and their personal information.
- The subjects available to choose from will appear on the system. You are allowed to pick only from these.
- If you are sitting for an improvement, be sure to check the same papers you intend to improve.
- If appearing in an additional subject only, students can only select the subjects that are permitted by the CBSE.
- For students who have taken a gap year in between, additional documents such as proof of age or a previous marksheet may be required.
Detailed Steps for Class 12 Private Candidates
- Students must enter their Class 12 roll number and year of exam.
- Improvement candidates can choose to reappear in one or more subjects.
- For subjects with practical components, students must also pay the additional practical fee.
- Visually impaired candidates in Delhi schools can apply for exemptions in laboratory practicals for subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.
- Class 12 candidates also have the option of applying for a migration certificate along with their application.
Check Out: CBSE Class 10 Date Sheet
CBSE Private Exam Fee Structure 2026
CBSE has fixed the fee for both Class 10 and Class 12 private candidates. The fees are different for India, Nepal, and other countries.
Examination Fee (Class 10 & 12):
| Fee Slab | India Class 10 &12 | Nepal Class 10 &12 | Other Countries Class 10 &12 | Schedule for Submission of Exam Form Fee |
| Normal Fee | 320/- per subject per candidate for additional subjects. | 1100/- per subject per candidate for additional subjects. | 2200/- per subject per candidate for additional subjects. |
09.09.2025 (TUESDAY) to 30.09.2025 (TUESDAY) 11.59 p.m |
| With Late Fee | Late Fee of 2000/- per candidate in addition to the normal fee prescribed above |
03.10.2025 (FRIDAY) to 11.10.2025 (SATURDAY) 11.59.p.m |
||
Practical Fee (Only for Class 12):
| Region | Practical Fee per Subject |
| India | ₹160 per practical subject per candidate. |
| Nepal | ₹175 per practical subject per candidate. |
| Other Countries | ₹375 per practical subject per candidate. |
Migration Certificate (Class 12 Only):
- CBSE will not provide a hard copy of the migration certificate.
- A soft copy will be available immediately after the result.
- If required, students can apply online for the hard copy after the result declaration.
Note: Fee will be accepted only through online payment. No offline mode like DD, cheque, or cash is allowed.
Check Out: CBSE Class 12 Date Sheet 2026
Rules and Guidelines for Registration for Private Candidates by CBSE
Private Candidates need to strictly adhere to the following:
- Just one form of application can be entertained. If you submit under a combination of categories, your form will be invalidated.
- The students of 2025 will have their details auto-filled in the form. Students of 2024 or prior have to enter the correct roll number, year of passing, etc.
- Wrong information or false documents will result in rejection of form and forfeiture of fee.
- The exam center will be allotted as per the city selected by you. Once chosen, you can’t go back from it.
- Students with disabilities can claim exemptions by uploading their medical certificate.
- Submit the fee before the last date. If the fee is not paid, the application will be cancelled automatically.
- Payment must be made from your or your parent/sibling’s account for easy refunds if required.
- After filling the form, download a copy and check all details. Corrections can be made before the last date.
- Hard copy of the form is not required to be sent to CBSE.
Documents Required for Application of Private Candidates
- Previous year’s Roll Number and Year of Passing/Failing.
- Scanned photo (recent, colour, passport size, JPG format, less than 40 KB).
- Scanned signature (JPG format, less than 40 KB).
- Medical/Disability certificate (if applicable).
- Marksheets for improvement / Compartment categories.
Special Guidelines for Uploading Photos
- Taken in the last 6 months.
- Face should cover 80% of the photo.
- Clear background, no tinted glasses.
- Smiling allowed.
Syllabus and Subjects Guideline
- Students will follow the CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 syllabus for academic year 2025-26.
- The syllabus can be downloaded from CBSE Academic Website.
- Students cannot choose subjects outside the list shown by CBSE’s system.
- For Class 12, practical exams are mandatory (except for visually impaired candidates in Delhi schools).
Guideline for Admit Card & Exam Centre
- Admit cards will be issued separately to private candidates.
- Students will get a new roll number (different from their previous one).
- Admit card must be downloaded online before the exams.
- Exam centre will be based on the city chosen during registration no changes allowed later.
- Students outside Delhi will collect marksheet and certificates from the exam centre, while Delhi candidates will collect them from their respective schools.
Marksheet & Certificate Rules
- All candidates will receive a fresh marksheet cum certificate for 2026 exams.
- Improvement candidates will get a new marksheet, but only the better score will be considered.
- Compartment candidates will get a consolidated marksheet combining past and current performance.
- Percentage Calculation: CBSE does not provide aggregate percentage. It depends on the college/university where you apply.
- Migration certificate is available for Class 12 candidates who apply for it during registration.
Mistakes to Avoid While Filling the Registration Form for CBSE Private Candidates
- Entering wrong roll number or year of exam.
- Uploading unclear or incorrect photo and signature.
- Choosing the wrong subject category (improvement/additional subject).
- Selecting the wrong exam city once submitted, it cannot be changed.
- Waiting until the last day and then getting server problems.
- Paying twice because of a mistake without ascertaining the status.
Conclusion
The registration for the CBSE Board Exam 2026 has begun for private candidates of Class 10 and Class 12. Candidates are responsible for verifying their eligibility, collating the documents required, and registering for the program within the due date.
The last date without a late fee is 30 September 2025, and with a late fee is 11 October 2025. Early is always better to account for any technical difficulties. Irrespective of whether you apply for improvement, compartment, or additional subject candidate only, now is your opportunity to give the CBSE board exams to be held in February–April 2026. Go through the details provided on the official CBSE website (idioms website) beforehand and keep a printout of your confirmation page.
FAQs about CBSE Private Candidate Exam Form 2026
Q1. Can I apply offline for CBSE private exams 2026?
No, there is absolutely no physical interaction; the process is one hundred percent online. The students have to register themselves on the official CBSE website in the “Private Candidate” category. Offline mode, such as through schools or post, will not be entertained. Online registration would also facilitate quick processing and tracking of applications.
Q2. What happens if I pay the fee but am later found ineligible?
If a candidate is found ineligible by CBSE after the fee is paid, his application will stand rejected. The charges will be refunded after deduction of the processing fee. So, carefully check your eligibility before you apply. Checking your eligibility is essential in order to prevent delays or losing your application fee.
Q3. Can I change my exam centre city after submission?
No, once you have selected the exam city in the online form, you will not be able to change it. CBSE adheres to the city selected at the time (race against time phrase meaning) of registration. Students should opt for a test centre close to home for their own convenience, as the board will not consider any requests to change centres subsequently.
Q4. Can Class 12 students apply for a migration certificate?
Yes, Class 12th students during registration can apply for a migration certificate. This enables them to obtain a soft copy soon after the declaration of results. But they will have to opt for this at the time of filling the form, and they may be charged a migration certificate fee.
Q5. Do improvement candidates get a new marksheet?
Yes, students who are taking improvement exams will get a new marksheet with the revised marks on it. Note that only the best scores from the previous and current results are taken into account. CBSE provides a new Marks Statement cum Certificate for the purpose of showing improvement, and it can be submitted for higher education or admissions.
Q6. Is there any special provision for visually impaired candidates?
Yes, visually challenged candidates of Delhi are exempted from laboratory practicals in some subjects. They can opt for some optional subjects like music instead of practical-oriented subjects. Accessibility and special concessions are provided to children with special needs by the CBSE system, but supporting documents, such as a medical certificate, have to be uploaded in the course of registration.
