The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has announced the schedule for the 2026 Matric (10th) and Intermediate (12th) annual examinations. This year, a total of 15,12,963 students will appear for the Matriculation exams, while 13,17,846 students are registered for the Intermediate exams across the state. In both exams, the number of female candidates will surpass that of male candidates. The Bihar Board has also outlined the examination dates and shift timings, offering students clear guidelines for their preparation.
Number of Students and Gender Distribution
The total number of students appearing for the Bihar Board 2026 exams is significant, reflecting the state’s growing educational participation. This year, the number of female students is notably higher than male students in both the 10th and 12th exams.
For the Matriculation exams, there will be 7,85,829 female candidates and 7,27,124 male candidates. Additionally, 10 transgender students have registered for the Matric exams. In the Intermediate category, 6,75,845 female students will appear alongside 6,42,001 male students.
This increase in female participation is a testament to the ongoing efforts of the Bihar government to encourage female education, making them more vocal and active in their academic pursuits.
Exam Shifts and Dates
For the Intermediate exams, the Bihar Board will conduct the exams in a single shift. In contrast, the Matric exams will be held in two shifts to accommodate the large number of students.
The Intermediate exams are scheduled to take place from February 2 to February 13, 2026, while the Matric exams will be held from February 17 to February 25, 2026. Both sets of exams will be conducted across multiple exam centers in Bihar, with special provisions made for both urban and rural areas.
Key Exam Details for Patna District
In Patna district, the number of students appearing for the Matric and Intermediate exams is also significant. For the Matric exam, a total of 71,009 students will appear, while 73,963 students are registered for the Intermediate exam. The district will have 70 exam centers for the Matric exams and 84 centers for the Intermediate exams.
Among the students appearing for the Intermediate exams, there will be 38,037 female students and 35,936 male students. In the Matric exams, 38,038 male students and 32,981 female students will take the exams.
Impact of Encouragement for Girls’ Education
Bihar’s education system has seen a remarkable shift, largely due to government initiatives aimed at promoting girls’ education. The increase in the number of female students in the board exams is a reflection of this change. Bihar Board President Anand Kishore emphasized that the state government is committed to promoting girls’ education, and the growing number of female candidates each year is proof of the success of these efforts.
The higher number of girls in this year’s examination is not just a statistical achievement but also an indication of the growing empowerment of women through education in Bihar.
Bihar Board Matric Exam Datesheet 2026
The detailed datesheet for the 2026 Bihar Board Matric exams is as follows:
February 17:
First Shift: Mother Tongue (101 Hindi, 102 Bengali, 103 Urdu, 104 Maithili)
Second Shift: Mother Tongue (201 Hindi, 202 Bengali, 203 Urdu, 204 Maithili)February 18:
First Shift: Mathematics (110)
Second Shift: Mathematics (210)February 19:
First Shift: Second Indian Language (105 Sanskrit, 107 Arabic, 108 Persian, 109 Bhojpuri for Hindi speakers)
Second Shift: Second Indian Language (205 Sanskrit, 207 Arabic, 208 Persian, 209 Bhojpuri for Hindi speakers)February 20:
First Shift: Social Science (111)
Second Shift: Social Science (211)February 21:
First Shift: Science (112)
Second Shift: Science (212)February 23:
First Shift: English (General) (113)
Second Shift: English (General) (213)February 24:
First Shift: Elective Subjects (114 Advanced Mathematics, 115 Commerce, 116 Economics, 121 Persian, 122 Sanskrit, 123 Arabic, 124 Maithili)
Second Shift: Elective Subjects (214 Advanced Mathematics, 215 Commerce, 216 Economics, 221 Persian, 222 Sanskrit, 223 Arabic, 224 Maithili)February 25:
First Shift: Vocational Electives (127 Security, 128 Beautician, 129 Tourism, 130 Retail Management, 131 Automobile, 132 Electronics and Hardware, 133 Beauty and Wellness, 134 Telecom, 135 IT/ITes)
Bihar Board 12th Exam Datesheet 2026
The datesheet for the Bihar Board 12th exams in 2026 is as follows:
February 2:
First Shift: Biology, Philosophy
Second Shift: EconomicsFebruary 3:
First Shift: Mathematics
Second Shift: Political Science, Foundation CourseFebruary 5:
First Shift: Physics
Second Shift: Geography, Business StudiesFebruary 6:
First Shift: English
Second Shift: HindiFebruary 7:
First Shift: Chemistry
Second Shift: English, AgricultureFebruary 9:
First Shift: Hindi
Second Shift: Elective Subjects Paper 1February 10:
First Shift: All Languages (Urdu, Maithili, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Magahi, Bhojpuri, Arabic, Persian, Pali, Bengali)
Second Shift: Psychology and EntrepreneurshipFebruary 11:
First Shift: Music and Vocational Elective Paper 2
Second Shift: ISC Security, Education, Tourism, Retail, Home Science, ISC Maths, History, Political Science, Economics, SociologyFebruary 12:
First Shift: Sociology
Second Shift: Security, Beautician, Retail, Management, Auto, Mobile, Electric, Wellness, TelecomFebruary 13:
First Shift: Languages of all faculties
Second Shift: Computer Science, Multimedia and Web Technology, Yoga, and Vocational Trades
The 2026 Bihar Board Matric and Intermediate exams are set to begin in early February, with thousands of students across the state gearing up for the annual assessments. The number of female candidates continues to rise, marking significant progress in gender equality in education. With a comprehensive schedule and adequate exam centers, students have the opportunity to showcase their academic prowess. The Bihar Board’s commitment to improving education quality is evident through its focus on both academic and vocational subjects. The upcoming exams are expected to be a significant milestone for students, as they prepare to take the next step in their educational journey.
