Shillong, May 20: The MBoSE has announced registration of private candidates to appear for SSLC examination.
There is no age limit to appear for the examination, according to the official notification.
The full text of the direction below
NOTIFICATION
Dated Tura, the 20th May, 2026.
It is notified for information of all concerned that the registration for PRIVATE CANDIDATES as notified vide Notification no.799 dated Tura 13th February 2026 is now open. Candidates who are eligible may contact their nearest SSLC examination centers for more information. Only notified SSLC Examination Centres are allowed to register Private Candidates. All heads of institutions are to direct the candidates to the Examination Centres in case they are approached for registration of such candidates.
Eligibility and Criteria are as noted below.
Candidates who discontinued regular schooling due to genuine hardship.
Candidate who exhausted all permissible attempts up to 2025.
Candidates pursuing professional sports and games.
Candidates pursuing professional art form.
The above candidates must be a domicile of Meghalaya and as a proof of domicile anyone of the documents (of the candidates or his/her parents) shall be submitted.
i) MHIS Card
ii) MGNREGS Job Card
iii) Voter ID
iv) PDS (Ration) Card
v) Adhaar Card
vi) Birth Certificate
vii) Caste Certificate
Age Requirement: There shall be no upper age limit for admission as a Private Candidate. However, the candidate shall have attained a minimum age of fifteen (15) years on or before 31st December of the year in which he/she proposes to appear in the SSLC Examination.
Cooling-off Period for School Dropouts: Students who discontinued regular schooling before completing Class X shall be eligible for admission as Private Candidates only after the expiry of a minimum period calculated as: Ten (10) years minus the last class studied
Since documentary evidence relating to the last class studied may not always be readily available in the case of school dropout students, candidates pursuing professional sports or similar activities, home-schooled learners, or other non-traditional learners, the Officer-in-Charge of the Examination Centre shall not rely solely on documentary proof of the last class studied for the purpose of admission as a Private Candidate, and greater emphasis shall instead be placed on the candidate’s academic preparedness and potential as assessed through the screening or competency assessment conducted by the Examination Centre in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Board.
This cooling-off period has been prescribed to discourage premature or strategic withdrawal from regular schooling for the sole purpose of appearing as a Private Candidate.
For example, a student who discontinued schooling after Class VIII shall be eligible to apply as a Private Candidate only after a minimum period of two (2) years has lapsed from the date of discontinuation.
Equitable and Exceptional Consideration: In all cases, eligibility shall be assessed on the basis of documentary evidence and the merits of the case. Any attempt to misuse this provision or to circumvent regular schooling requirements shall render the application liable to rejection. The last date for registration will be the 30th June 2026.
David. D. Sangma IAS,
Executive Chairman
Meghalaya Board of School Education,
Tura.
