Education – Tamil Nadu Sets Dates for 2026 Board Exams
Education – The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examinations has released the timetable for the 2025–26 public examinations, confirming that Higher Secondary students will take their Class 12 board exams from March 2 to March 26 next year. The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 examinations are scheduled from March 11 to April 6 across the state.
Class 12 Examinations to Begin on March 2
According to official figures, 8,27,475 candidates are expected to sit for the Higher Secondary examinations starting Monday, March 2. Of them, 7,99,692 are regular school students, while 27,783 candidates have registered privately.
Exams will be conducted at 3,412 centres throughout Tamil Nadu. Authorities have put in place detailed security protocols and monitoring systems to ensure that the process remains fair and transparent. The Directorate said arrangements have been coordinated at multiple levels to avoid disruptions during the examination period.
Class 11 Public Exams Discontinued
In line with the State Education Policy, the government has decided to withdraw the public examination system for Class 11 students. However, those who were unable to clear previous Class 11 public exams will be given another opportunity. Re-examinations are scheduled from March 3 to March 27 and will be held at 2,615 centres statewide.
A total of 25,051 candidates will appear for these arrear examinations. This includes 19,107 school students and 5,944 private candidates who are seeking to complete their pending subjects.
Prison Inmates Among Candidates
In a notable development, 281 inmates lodged in prisons across Tamil Nadu will also take part in this year’s Higher Secondary public examinations. Officials said this initiative reflects the state’s continued focus on providing educational opportunities to all sections of society, including those undergoing rehabilitation.
Deployment of Teachers and Monitoring Squads
To manage the large number of candidates, more than 49,000 teachers will serve as room invigilators on a daily basis across examination centres. Additionally, over 4,900 flying squads have been formed to oversee proceedings and curb any form of malpractice.
Education officials stated that these teams will conduct surprise inspections and monitor compliance with established guidelines. The aim is to maintain uniform standards at every centre and uphold the integrity of the examination system.
Chennai District Makes Extensive Arrangements
In Chennai district alone, 64,359 students from 578 Higher Secondary schools are set to appear for the Class 12 board exams. This includes 30,663 boys and 33,696 girls. Examinations will take place at 250 designated centres within the district.
Apart from regular candidates, 3,157 private students have also registered to write the exams in Chennai.
Authorities in the district have established five secure depots for storing question papers and five centres for collecting answer scripts. To facilitate smooth distribution, 65 dedicated routes have been mapped out.
Approximately 6,150 personnel have been assigned examination-related duties in Chennai. The team includes 250 chief invigilators, 250 departmental officers, 550 members of flying and stationary squads, 4,100 room invigilators and scribes, along with nearly 1,000 non-teaching staff members.
Officials Assure Smooth Conduct
Senior officials from the Directorate have indicated that all preparatory measures are in place for the examinations to proceed without disruption. From secure transport of question papers to systematic evaluation processes, departments have coordinated to ensure consistency and fairness across Tamil Nadu.
With lakhs of students preparing to take a significant step in their academic journey, the focus remains on maintaining discipline, transparency and equal opportunity throughout the examination cycle.