The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has once again made it clear that students of Classes 10 and 12 must have at least 75% attendance in the 2025–26 academic year to be allowed to appear for the 2026 board exams.
As per media report, the board issued a circular on August 4, stressing strict enforcement of the rule after noticing continued cases of non-compliance. Referring to Rules 13 and 14 of the CBSE Examination Bye-Laws, the board stated that students who fail to meet the attendance requirement will not be allowed to sit for the exams unless they qualify for valid exemptions. The move is aimed at curbing the rise of dummy candidates and ensuring academic discipline.
CBSE will allow exemptions to the 75% attendance rule only for medical emergencies, bereavement, or participation in recognised sports events—if proper documents are submitted.
The board warned against fudging attendance data and said, “Leave without a written request will be considered unauthorized absence from the school.” Schools must inform students and parents about these rules and the consequences right at the start of the academic year.
Schools have been directed to alert parents in writing—via registered post or email—if a student’s attendance drops below the required level. For medical leave, certificates from government-recognized doctors are mandatory. In other serious cases like bereavement, supporting documents such as death certificates or official notices must be provided. All documents must be submitted immediately after the leave. “Attendance will be calculated as of January 1, and schools must submit condonation cases to the CBSE by January 7,” the board stated. Any requests sent after the deadline will be outrightly rejected.
To enforce attendance rules, CBSE has authorised surprise inspections in its affiliated schools. If records are found to be incomplete or tampered with, the board may take strict action—including disqualifying students from board exams or even revoking the school’s affiliation.
Schools are required to maintain daily attendance registers, signed by both the class teacher and the head of the institution, and keep them ready for inspection. They must also retain records of all parent communications and use the official CBSE proforma and SOPs while submitting attendance shortage cases.
No room for manipulation CBSE made it unequivocally clear that once the shortage of attendance cases is submitted, no revisions will be entertained, even if schools later claim students met the required attendance. “Such communication will be considered manipulation, and attendance status will not be changed,” the circular warned.
The board concluded by underlining that regular attendance is not merely a bureaucratic requirement but a cornerstone of cultivating discipline and accountability among students. For compliance, schools are advised to: Disseminate attendance rules early in the academic session.
Schools have been asked to sensitise both parents and students about the consequences of failing to meet attendance norms. Daily monitoring and accurate record-keeping are mandatory, and any cases of attendance shortage must be submitted strictly within the given deadline. CBSE’s message is clear: academic integrity starts with the basics—and attendance is non-negotiable.