Board exams are a major part of school life. For many students, they bring long hours of revision, planning, worry and pressure. Parents often want to help but are unsure how to ease the stress. Recognizing this, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started a free CBSE psycho-social counselling 2026 programme for students of Class X and Class XII from 6 January to 1 June 2026. This is meant to support students as they prepare for the theory exams beginning 17 February 2026.
Instead of academic coaching, this support focuses on helping students manage exam stress, stay balanced and feel confident while studying.
What Support is Available
CBSE’s counselling support has three parts: a helpline that is open around the clock, weekday tele-counselling with trained counsellors, and online resources on the CBSE website.
1. 24×7 Toll-Free Counselling Helpline: 1800-11-8004
The board has launched a toll-free CBSE free counselling helpline that students and parents can call any time, day or night. The helpline works in Hindi and English, and you don’t need a counsellor on the line to use it. The phone system gives guidance on:
- ways to prepare for exams without feeling overwhelmed
- managing time across subjects
- answers to common questions students ask during exam preparation
- where to find important CBSE contact numbers
Moreover, this service can be accessed at anytime during the day or night. Which means that students can call whenever they feel stuck or anxious. This is especially helpful when stress peaks late in the evening or early morning.
2. Weekday Counselling Calls
In addition to the helpline, CBSE has arranged tele-counselling on weekdays:
- Days: Monday to Friday
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Both students and parents can have a direct conversation with trained professionals. This panel comprises school principals, counsellors who work in schools, special educators and qualified psychologists. A total of 73 counsellors are available with 61 of them from India who understand the importance of such exams and others are from places like Nepal, Japan, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Whatever the issue may be, be it exam stress, anxiety,or stress about revision, talking to a counsellor helps. They provide simple and practical suggestions that can help students feel calm and in control. The best part is that parents can also be a part of these conversations. This helps them support their child in ways that feel right for their situation.
3. Online Resources on Stress and Exam Preparation
For many students, exams = stress. Some students talk about it with their friends, family or teachers and many keep it all to themselves. Knowing how difficult these things can get, CBSE has shared some simple materials online as part of CBSE Psycho-Social Counselling during exams. It covers things like handling stress, planning revision, and looking after your emotional health while studying.
Go through the resources one by one when you feel like you need help. Try suggestions you feel will be helpful to you. Come back later if something feels useful. Even small changes like studying properly for a while and then actually taking a break can make long days feel less draining.
Why This Support Matters
From a counsellor’s point of view, exams are not only about preparation. They are also about how students are coping with stress. Stress can affect sleep, mood, and focus. Students often overwhelm themselves with strict schedules that do not allow for breaks or intense studying sessions, and once that happens, they think that they are not studying well. For them, it would be wise to understand that a calm mind helps them to focus better and retain information better too. Although, it can become easy to feel that the solutions provided by counsellors are magic solutions. They are small supports or ways to organise your day, reminders to pause, and encouragement to talk about what’s bothering you instead of keeping quiet.
Many students feel lighter just after one honest conversation. Parents, too, feel unsure at this time. They want to help but don’t always know how. Guidance helps them stay patient and supportive instead of reacting out of worry.
How Students and Parents Can Use CBSE Psycho-Social Counselling
Save the helpline number
Keep 1800-11-8004 saved. When things feel too much, speaking to someone can help you become grounded.
Use the counselling hours if needed
Stress often does not go away, and starts to affect sleep, concentration and memory. It becomes important that one talks to a counsellor. They will help in making things manageable
Keep talking at home
this is a time when both students and parents feel stressed out and on edge. Students should not feel they have to hide their stress for the fear of being judged or scolded by their parents. Parents should try to listen calmly, even if they don’t have all the answers right away.
Exams are important, but they are only one part of a student’s life. Marks matter, but well-being matters more in the long run. If stress feels heavy, reaching out for support is a sensible step. CBSE’s counselling services are there so students and parents don’t have to handle everything on their own.