Class 10 exams begin in Kashmir; JKBOSE reschedules paper due to Budgam bypoll

Srinagar, Nov 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Monday issued a revised date sheet for class 10th students even as their annual regular examinations began across Kashmir on November 3, 2025.

According to JKBOSE officials, the schedule was revised in view of the upcoming by-elections in Budgam constituency on November 11. Secretary JKBOSE, Ghulam Hassan Sheikh, said the revised dates would apply to all remaining papers.

He said the changes were necessitated by the Assembly by-polls in two constituencies—Budgam and Nagrota—scheduled for November 11.

As per the revised date sheet, the examination for Vocational Subjects will now be held on November 6, followed by the Science paper on November 13. Urdu and Hindi papers are scheduled for November 17, while Computer Science will be conducted on November 19.

The English paper has been rescheduled for November 20, and Home Science will be held on November 23. The exams for Painting, Art and Drawing are scheduled for November 27, marking the culmination of the annual session.

The examination for subjects with fewer candidates, such as Music, will be held on November 25. The exam for additional and optional languages—including Kashmiri, Dogri, Bhoti, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Sanskrit—will be held on November 24. Social Science will be conducted on November 26.

“The students are advised to prepare as per the revised date sheet without any panic,” Sheikh said. He added that JKBOSE has instructed Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Heads of Institutions (HOIs) and invigilating staff to strictly adhere to the new schedule and ensure students are informed through all available means.

As per official figures, 94,783 students have registered for the class 10th annual regular examination. Of them, 68,804 are from Kashmir division, 25,224 from the winter zone areas of Jammu, 660 from Kargil and 95 from Leh.

To conduct the exams smoothly, JKBOSE has set up 994 examination centres—679 in Kashmir and 315 in the winter zone areas of Jammu division. The exam timing has been fixed from 11 am to 2 pm.

JKBOSE has already announced 15 percent relaxation in the syllabus for students of classes 10th, 11th and 12th due to academic disruptions during the current session.

Students who appeared in the first exam on Monday said the paper was balanced and the relaxation in syllabus proved helpful. “The question paper was easy, and the 15 percent relaxation allowed us to skip doubtful questions. Those who prepared well performed well today,” a group of students told Greater Kashmir outside an exam centre.

Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Naseer Ahmad Wani, extended his best wishes to the students and later visited various examination centres across Srinagar. He was accompanied by Chief Accounts Officer DSEK, Syed Mubashirah, and CEO Srinagar, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Bhat.

During the visit, DSEK interacted with students and staff and reviewed the arrangements put in place for the smooth conduct of the exams. Other teams from the directorate also inspected examination centres across the Kashmir division.

Personnel Officer DSEK, Dr Iqbal Hussain Mir, visited various exam centres in Budgam district, where he interacted with students and staff and reviewed the arrangements.