New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a stringent set of "Dress Code and Conduct" guidelines for the 2026 Board Exams, which are scheduled to commence tomorrow, February 17.

With over 4.6 million students set to appear across India and 26 countries abroad, the Board has emphasised a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding prohibited items and late entries. Officials noted that the regulations are designed to facilitate faster frisking and eliminate the possibility of "Unfair Means" (UFM).

Official Dress Code: Half-Sleeves and No Shoes

The CBSE has categorised clothing requirements to ensure a uniform security standard:

  • Regular Students: Must appear in their complete school uniform. Tie, belt, and school ID are mandatory identifiers.
  • Private Candidates: Advised to wear light-colored, simple clothing (whites or pastels).
  • Prohibited Apparel: Clothes with full sleeves, large buttons, intricate embroidery, or excessive pockets are strictly barred. Kurtas and pyjamas are also discouraged for male candidates.
  • Footwear: Students are expected to wear sandals or slippers. Closed shoes with thick soles or boots are prohibited to prevent the concealment of unauthorized materials.
  • Jewellery: All forms of jewellery, including earrings, nose pins, bracelets, and rings, must be removed before entering the centre.

The "Essential" Carry List

Candidates will only be permitted to carry a limited number of items into the examination hall, preferably in a transparent pouch:

  1. Mandatory Documents: Original Admit Card (signed) and a valid photo ID (School ID for regular students; Govt. ID for private candidates).
  2. Stationery: Blue or royal blue ballpoint pens, pencils, erasers, and basic geometry tools (compass, divider, protractor).
  3. Water Bottles: Only unbranded, transparent bottles are allowed.
  4. Analog Watches: Simple needle-based watches are permitted to track time; however, all digital or smart devices are banned.

Timeline for Exam Day

  • Gate Closing: 10:00 AM (IST) sharp. No entry will be granted under any circumstances after the gates close.
  • Reading Time: 10:15 AM to 10:30 AM (Mandatory 15-minute period to review the question paper).
  • Exam Duration: 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM for most major subjects.

Note to Candidates: For the 2026 cycle, Class 10 Science and Social Science papers have been divided into mandatory sections. Students must ensure answers are written in the designated sections of the answer booklet, as misplaced answers will not be evaluated.