Jharkhand Academic Council Announces 2026 Board Examination Schedule for Multiple Classes
The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has officially unveiled the comprehensive examination timetable for the 2026 board exams, covering students in Class 8, Class 9, and Class 11. This significant announcement provides clarity and structure for thousands of students across the state, with all examinations scheduled to take place in February 2026. The council has confirmed that exams will be conducted in two shifts each day, ensuring efficient administration and proper social distancing protocols where necessary.
Key Examination Dates and Download Information
Students and educational institutions can access the detailed JAC Board date sheet 2026 in PDF format through the official portals: jacexamportal.in and jac.jharkhand.gov.in. The examination schedule has been meticulously planned with specific dates for each class:
- Class 8 exams: February 24, 2026
- Class 11 exams: February 25 to February 27, 2026
- Class 9 exams: February 28 to March 2, 2026
A notable feature of the 2026 examinations is the implementation of OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheets for all papers. Additionally, students will benefit from a 15-minute reading period before each examination commences, allowing them to review question papers thoroughly.
Detailed Class 11 Examination Schedule
The Jharkhand Board Class 11 examinations will follow a structured two-sitting format daily, with specific timing arrangements for different papers:
- Paper I Timing: Morning session from 10:45 am to 12:00 pm; Afternoon session from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
- Paper II Timing: Morning session from 10:45 am to 1:00 pm; Afternoon session from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm
- Paper III Timing: Morning session from 10:45 am to 1:00 pm; Afternoon session from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm
The Class 11 date sheet reveals a carefully organized subject distribution:
- February 25: First sitting includes Core Language (English or Hindi A) for Science and Commerce streams, plus Hindi B and Mundari/Bengali for Arts, Science, and Commerce. Second sitting covers Core Language (English or Hindi A) for Arts stream.
- February 26: First sitting features Physics and Chemistry or Accountancy and Business Studies for Science and Commerce. Second sitting includes Optional Subjects (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) for Arts.
- February 27: First sitting covers Optional Subjects (3rd and 4th) for Science and Commerce. Second sitting includes Elective Language for Arts.
Class 9 Examination Framework
Similar to Class 11, the Jharkhand Board Class 9 exams will operate with two daily shifts. The timing structure varies by paper:
- Paper 1 and Paper 3: 9:45 am to 1:00 pm
- Paper 2: 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm
The Class 9 examination schedule spans three days:
- February 28: First sitting includes Hindi A, Hindi B, and English. Second sitting covers Mathematics and Science.
- March 2: First sitting features Social Science and Other Language (where applicable). No second sitting scheduled for this date.
Class 8 Examination Details
The Jharkhand Board Class 8 examination will concentrate on a single day, February 24, 2026, with two distinct sittings:
- Paper 1 (9:45 am to 1:00 pm): Hindi, English, and one Additional Language
- Paper 2 (2:00 pm to 5:15 pm): Mathematics, Science, and Social Science
Admit Card Distribution Timeline
According to the official JAC notice, school principals bear responsibility for downloading and distributing admit cards according to a specific schedule:
- Class 8: Internal marks entry from February 26 to March 10, 2026
- Class 11: Internal marks entry from March 2 to March 14, 2026
- Class 9: Internal marks entry from March 5 to March 15, 2026
Passing Criteria and Assessment Structure
The JAC has established clear academic requirements for student success:
For Class 9 and Class 11: Students must appear in five main subjects and pass at least four subjects to be declared successful. Each subject paper comprises 40 marks for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and 10 marks for internal assessment conducted at the school or college level.
For Class 8: Each subject paper carries 50 marks, supplemented by an institutional-level internal assessment worth 100 marks conducted by individual schools.
The Jharkhand Academic Council advises all students to regularly monitor official JAC websites for updates and adhere strictly to instructions provided by their respective educational institutions. This comprehensive examination schedule allows ample preparation time while maintaining academic rigor across all classes.
