The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) is making important changes to Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. These new rules will start from the March 2026 board examinations. The main changes include uniform question papers for all students, 20% multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and new digital progress reports.
HPBOSE wants to make board exams fairer for everyone. Students will no longer face different question papers with varying difficulty levels. The board is also introducing new ways to check papers and share results faster.
| Key Changes by HPBOSE | Details |
| Uniform Question Papers | All Class 10 and Class 12 students will get the same exam paper for board exams from March 2026 . Question sequence may vary. |
| 20% Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | Exams will include 20% MCQs . Students will answer them on OMR sheets for faster, more accurate checking. |
| Digital Progress Reports | New online reports will track both academic and co-curricular achievements. These will be introduced gradually. |
| Trial Run (Pilot) | A trial of the new system will take place in selected schools during 2025 . |
Same Question Paper for Everyone
From March 2026 , all students appearing for Class 10 and Class 12 board exams will answer the same question paper. Currently, HPBOSE uses many sets of question papers. This can mean some students get an easier paper, and others get a harder one. To fix this, the board will now use one common paper.
Even though the paper will be the same, the order of questions might be different at various exam centres. This small change helps to keep the exam secure while making sure everyone takes an exam of the same difficulty. This step ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all students across Himachal Pradesh.
New Exam Pattern: 20% MCQs
A new feature in the upcoming board exams is the addition of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). These MCQs will make up 20% of the total marks in the exam. Students will answer these questions on special sheets called OMR sheets .
Using OMR sheets means that computers can check these answers quickly and with very few mistakes. This will speed up the paper checking process. It will also help in getting results out faster and more accurately. To prepare for this change, HPBOSE is creating a large bank of questions. The board will also train teachers on the new exam pattern and how to use OMR sheets. A trial run of these changes will happen in some schools next year, in 2025 , before they are fully started in 2026.
Digital Progress Reports for Students
HPBOSE is also working on a new system for student progress reports. These will be digital reports, meaning they will be available online. These reports will not only show how well a student scored in their exams but also their performance in other activities. This includes sports, clubs, and other co-curricular activities.
The digital reports will give a complete picture of a student's development. They will be introduced step-by-step after the new exam system is fully in place. The goal is to give students and parents a more detailed and easier-to-access record of their school journey.
Steps Before Full Rollout
The board plans to test these new changes first. A pilot run will take place in a few selected schools in 2025 . This trial will help HPBOSE check if the new system works well and make any needed adjustments. After the trial, the new exam system will be fully launched across all schools in Himachal Pradesh from March 2026 .
HPBOSE is also looking into using digital tools to evaluate answer sheets. This would make checking papers even faster and more consistent. These modern changes aim to improve the quality of education and the examination system for all students in the state.
