CBSE reiterates 75% attendance rule for Class 10 & 12 board exams 2025-26, issues SOPs, warns schools of strict monitoring and surprise inspections.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has once again underlined the importance of classroom presence by reiterating its mandatory 75 percent attendance rule for students appearing in the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations. The directive, issued on August 4, 2025, is intended to strengthen discipline, accountability, and regularity among students as well as schools in the run-up to the 2025-26 academic year examinations.
This directive reaffirms Rules 13 and 14 of the CBSE Examination Bye-Laws and builds upon a previous circular issued on October 9, 2024. Alongside the rule, the board has rolled out a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide schools and parents on how attendance shortages may be addressed and under what exceptional circumstances relaxation may be granted.
Why the Attendance Rule Matters
CBSE has made it clear that regular classroom engagement is crucial not only for academic success but also for the holistic development of students. The attendance rule is designed to ensure that students consistently benefit from direct teaching, peer learning, and assessments, rather than depending solely on self-study or private coaching.
The board has stressed that schools must make students and parents aware of this requirement at the beginning of the academic year itself and keep reminding them throughout the session.
Strict Monitoring Expected From Schools
Schools have been instructed to adopt a proactive approach in monitoring and reporting attendance. According to the directive:
- Awareness Drives: Teachers and principals must sensitise parents about the consequences of low attendance. Students falling short may even be disqualified from sitting for the board exams.
- Limited Grounds for Condonation: CBSE has identified very specific grounds under which attendance can be condoned. These include:
- Prolonged illness, supported by medical certificates.
- The unfortunate death of a parent.
- Serious family emergencies.
- Participation in state, national, or international-level recognised sports and cultural events.
- Mandatory Documentation: Every absence claimed under these grounds must be supported by official documentation such as medical records, death certificates, or event participation letters.
The board has also issued a stern warning against unauthorised absences, stating that such cases will be treated seriously. Students repeatedly skipping school without valid reasons risk being labelled as “dummy candidates”, rendering them ineligible for the final exams.
Attendance Records Under Scrutiny
To prevent misuse, CBSE has instructed schools to maintain daily attendance registers signed by class teachers and authorised officials. These records must always be available for inspection.
Key points include:
- Parental Communication: If a student’s attendance drops, schools must promptly inform parents through registered post, official letters, or verified email. A record of this communication must be preserved.
- Surprise Inspections: CBSE has reserved the right to conduct unannounced inspections at schools. Inspectors will verify attendance registers and cross-check records.
- Strict Penalties: Any manipulation of attendance data, falsification of records, or irregularities discovered during inspections could result in students’ disqualification or even disaffiliation of the school.
This underscores CBSE’s determination to enforce genuine attendance and curb malpractice, which has been a concern in past years.
Condonation Request Deadline: January 7
For students who genuinely fall short of the 75% benchmark despite valid reasons, CBSE has set a clear deadline for schools to apply for condonation.
- Deadline: Schools must submit applications to the respective CBSE Regional Office by January 7, 2026.
- No Extensions: Late or incomplete submissions will not be entertained.
- Finality: Once attendance data is submitted to CBSE, no further changes or corrections will be allowed.
Only those requests supported with proper documentation and verified by the school will be considered. The board has made it clear that there will be no last-minute relaxations, placing the responsibility squarely on schools to manage this process diligently.
A Push for Discipline in Academics
The latest directive reaffirms CBSE’s focus on instilling accountability in the education system. With increasing concerns about absenteeism, private coaching reliance, and exam-centric preparation, the 75% rule acts as a reminder that school-based learning remains central to academic and personal growth.
For students, this means being more mindful about attendance from the very start of the year. For schools, it is a call to maintain transparency, discipline, and timely communication with parents.
As CBSE has emphasised, strict adherence to the SOP is essential to avoid last-minute panic for students and to ensure that genuine cases are not overlooked.
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