Rahul · September 9, 2025 
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially announced the commencement of online submission of examination forms for Class 12 private candidates appearing in the 2025–2026 academic session. CBSE will conduct these examinations in February–April 2026, alongside the board’s main exams.
According to the notification, students in specific categories—such as Essential Repeat, Compartment, Fail in previous years (2020–2025), and candidates seeking Improvement of Performance—can apply. The forms will be available online from September 9, 2025, and students must submit them strictly within the given deadlines.
The board has fully digitized the application process. Students must apply through the “व्यक्तिगत परीक्षार्थी” (Private Candidate) link on the CBSE website. The board will not accept offline applications under any circumstances. Students also need to pay the entire fee online via net banking, debit/credit cards, or UPI.
Key Rules and Guidelines for CBSE Private Candidates 2026
Eligibility Categories
Candidates declared Essential Repeat/Fail in 2025 or in any exam from 2020 to 2025.
Students are placed in a Compartment in the Main or Supplementary exams.
Passed-out candidates of 2025 who want to apply for the Improvement of Performance in one or more subjects.
Form Submission Process
Students must fill out applications personally to avoid errors. Mistakes made by third parties (such as cyber cafés) will not receive any excuse.
Students from the 2025 batch will find their details auto-generated, while earlier batches must carefully enter their roll numbers and other details.
The board will reject wrong entries, false documents, or incorrect data. In such cases, students will lose fees and may face disciplinary action.
Fee Structure
Normal Fee Window: September 9 to September 30, 2025 (11:59 PM).
Late Fee Window: October 3 to October 11, 2025, with an additional penalty of ₹2000.
Separate fees apply for practical subjects, additional subjects, and candidates outside India.
Exam Centre & Admit Card
The board will allot exam centres strictly based on the city students choose in the form, and it will not allow any changes later.
Students can download admit cards from the CBSE website. For Delhi candidates, exam centres will distribute mark sheets and certificates; other candidates will receive them by post.
Special Provisions for CwSN Students
CBSE will continue concessions and exemptions for students with disabilities, as per the RPWD Act 2016. Candidates must upload valid disability certificates while applying.
The board also emphasized that merely submitting the form and paying the fee does not guarantee eligibility. Students must fulfill all conditions mentioned in the eligibility criteria and annexures provided in the circular.
Final Note
CBSE has urged candidates and parents to carefully read the eligibility conditions, fee schedules, and subject lists before applying. With the entire system now online, students should keep records of their submissions and cross-check details to avoid rejection.
The Class 12 board exams serve as a crucial milestone, and this notification ensures that private candidates who faced academic setbacks in previous years still get a structured chance to appear and improve their results in 2026.
Source: CBSE Official Circular
