In a major step to enforce discipline in schools, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a new directive. All students taking the 2026 board exams must have at least 75% attendance during the academic year 2025. The announcement, made on August 4, 2025, reinforces the earlier circular from October 2024. The board aims to tackle growing concerns about student absenteeism and the misuse of attendance rules.

CBSE stresses that this is not just a routine rule but an important move to address the increasing number of “dummy candidates.” These students enroll but rarely attend classes, focusing instead on competitive exams like JEE, NEET, or private coaching programs. The board believes these practices undermine formal education and classroom learning, which are vital for overall development. In this directive, CBSE clearly states that students who do not meet the attendance requirement by January 1, 2026, will not be allowed to sit for the board exams, except in exceptional circumstances.

To ensure fair enforcement of this rule, CBSE has released a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for schools to follow when students do not meet the 75% attendance requirement. Under the SOP, all medical leave applications must include a valid certificate from a government-recognized doctor. During family emergencies, such as the death of a close relative, appropriate documents like a death certificate must be provided. The board has instructed schools to submit all condonation cases—where exemptions are requested—by January 7, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will be rejected without reconsideration.

CBSE has set clear guidelines for schools on how to communicate with students and parents. Schools must inform students and their guardians about the 75% attendance rule at the start of the academic year. If a student’s attendance falls below the required level, schools must formally warn parents through registered post or official email. They should document this communication carefully, as it may be needed for future audits and verification.

Taking a strict stance against any potential malpractice, the board has enforced a zero-tolerance policy toward tampering with attendance records. Once condonation cases are submitted to CBSE, no changes to attendance data will be accepted, even if a student improves their attendance after the deadline. The board insists that any attempt by schools to alter records after this point will be seen as manipulation and misconduct.

In a notable step to ensure compliance, CBSE has the authority to conduct surprise inspections at affiliated schools. If any discrepancies are found in attendance records or evidence of falsification is present, the board could take serious disciplinary action. This may lead to disqualification of involved students from board exams or, in severe cases, the disaffiliation of the school from CBSE.

To support this process, schools must keep daily attendance registers, which require signatures from class teachers and countersignatures from the principal. These records should always be available for inspection. Additionally, schools must maintain a detailed record of all communication with parents regarding attendance, ensuring transparency and accountability.

This directive is part of CBSE’s larger effort to restore seriousness and integrity in classroom education, which the board believes is threatened by rising absenteeism. With this move, CBSE aims to emphasize the importance of daily learning and classroom interaction while ensuring that students and institutions are held accountable for their participation in education.

By introducing a strict SOP, enforcing clear deadlines, and allowing school inspections, the board has made it clear that attendance is essential. Students, parents, and school authorities must now view the 75% attendance rule as a necessary requirement for taking the crucial board exams.