Over 17.6 lakh students are appearing for the Tamil Nadu Board Exams in the March-April 2026 cycle. Plus Two (Class 12) and Plus One (Class 11) examinations commenced today, March 2, while SSLC (Class 10) exams are scheduled to begin on March 11. The state has implemented extensive arrangements, including thousands of officials and scribes, to ensure a smooth conduct of these crucial board examinations.
Over 17.61 lakh students across Tamil Nadu are participating in the March-April 2026 cycle of the Tamil Nadu Board Examinations. The highly anticipated Plus Two (Class 12) and Plus One (Class 11) exams commenced today, March 2, with SSLC (Class 10) exams set to start later this month.
Overview of Tamil Nadu Board Exams 2026
The Directorate of General Education, Tamil Nadu, has released data confirming the significant participation in this year’s board examinations. Here’s a breakdown of key statistics:
- Total Registered Students: 17,61,528 students across all three classes (Class 10, Class 11, and Class 12).
- Examination Period: March to April 2026.
Class 12 (Plus Two) Examinations
- Start Date: March 2, 2026 (began today with language papers).
- End Date: March 26, 2026.
- Total Candidates: 8,27,475 students, comprising 7,99,692 regular and 27,783 private candidates.
- Examination Centres: 3,412 across the state.
Class 11 (Plus One) Examinations
- Start Date: March 2, 2026.
- End Date: March 27, 2026.
- Total Candidates: 25,051 students, consisting of 19,107 regular and 5,944 private candidates.
Class 10 (SSLC) Examinations
- Start Date: March 11, 2026.
- End Date: April 6, 2026.
- Total Candidates: Approximately 9.09 lakh students, including 8,82,900 regular and 26,196 private candidates.
Ensuring Smooth Conduct and Support
To facilitate the smooth and fair conduct of these critical examinations, the Tamil Nadu government has deployed a vast network of officials and made special arrangements for students:
- Officials on Duty:
- Class 12: 4,540 chief superintendents and 44,624 invigilators.
- Class 11: 289 officials and 2,668 invigilators.
- Class 10 (SSLC): 4,954 officials and 49,542 invigilators.
- Scribe Allotment for Students with Physical Difficulties:
- Plus Two: 7,465 scribes for 281 identified students.
- Class 11: 186 scribes.
- SSLC: 12,292 scribes for 395 identified students.
- On-Ground Preparations: Examination centres in Chennai, such as a government higher secondary school in Arumbakkam, have reported early student arrivals, with all necessary seating, drinking water, and security measures fully in place, adhering strictly to examination guidelines.
National Board Adopts Digital Marking for Class 12
In a related development concerning other educational boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the reintroduction of On-Screen Marking (OSM) for Class 12 answer scripts starting in 2026. This digital evaluation system aims to enhance efficiency and transparency by automatically calculating marks from scanned answer sheets. Class 10 CBSE answer books will, however, continue to be assessed physically.
The CBSE board examinations for 2026 are scheduled from February 17 to April 10, with approximately 46 lakh students participating across over 31,000 affiliated schools in India and 26 other countries.
