The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a strong and clear reminder to all affiliated CBSE schools across the country: no student will be allowed to appear for the Class 10 or 12 Board exams unless they meet the mandatory attendance requirement.
CBSE Attendance Requirement
As per CBSE Examination Bye-Laws (Rules 13 and 14):
A student must have at least 75% attendance to be eligible for the Class 10 or 12 Board Examinations.
Only a 25% relaxation may be granted under exceptional circumstances like:
- Medical emergencies (with valid documentation)
- Participation in national/international sports
- Serious personal or family issues
What Happens If You Don’t Meet the CBSE Attendance Requirement?
If you fail to meet the attendance requirement and does not have a valid, documented reason, they may be barred from appearing in the Board exams.
Moreover, during CBSE’s surprise school inspections, any student absent without official leave applications may be labelled a ‘non-attending’ or ‘dummy’ candidate.
What Schools Must Do
CBSE has laid down a detailed action plan for schools:
- Inform students and parents early in the academic year about the 75% attendance rule.
- Document everything. Every leave—especially medical—must come with proper paperwork.
- Send regular warnings to parents of students falling short of attendance.
- Update attendance records daily and keep them ready for inspection.
- Submit shortage of attendance cases by 07 January, 2026 (No extensions allowed).
What Parents and Students Must Do
- Don't ignore attendance. Even a few careless weeks can lead to a major setback.
- Submit leave applications in writing—whether for health, travel, or family emergencies.
- Maintain copies of all documents such as medical certificates, competition invites, or government-issued proofs.
- Stay in touch with your school for any updates regarding the attendance policy.
Important Dates to Remember
| Activity | Deadline |
| Attendance counted | Up to 01 January, 2026 |
| Schools to send attendance shortage cases to CBSE | By 07 January, 2026 |
| CBSE responds with deficiencies (if any) | By 21 January, 2026 |
| Final date to resolve deficiencies | By 28 January, 2026 |
| CBSE’s final approval for condonation | By 07 February, 2026 |
What If You Have a Genuine Reason?
CBSE may condone shortage of attendance in serious cases like:
Prolonged illness: Needs a request letter, medical reports, and a recommendation from the school.
Loss of a parent or major family emergency: Requires supporting documents.
Sports at national or international level: Must be verified through official channels (as per CBSE SOPs).
Note: No case will be entertained after the deadline, no matter how genuine.
Final Thoughts
CBSE’s message is clear: attendance is not optional. While academics, competitions, and even crises are a part of student life, schools and parents must work together to ensure attendance doesn’t fall through the cracks.
Source
Official Notice by CBSE, 04 August, 2025: click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per the CBSE, Education Ministry, and Government of India.
