CBSE 12th Exam 2021 scrapped Live: Uttarakhand cancels Class 12 board exams

Education Secretary briefed the ministers on possible options available regarding exams during the high-level meeting on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court adjourned hearing of plea seeking directions to the Centre, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) to cancel the CBSE, ICSE Class 12 exams after the Central govt sought time till Thursday.

Ahead on PM's high-level meet on exams, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday urged PM Narendra Modi to cancel the Class 12 board exams in the prevailing situation as students and parents do not want exam to be conducted without vaccination.

The meeting was attended by Union Ministers including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani, Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with senior officials including Secretary of School Education and Higher Education.

The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of surge in coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important meeting regarding Class 12 Board Examinations, this evening. He will be briefed on all possible options, as a result of the extensive discussions with all states and other stakeholders.

The Union Education Ministry is unlikely to announce its decision regarding class 12 exams on Tuesday. The matter will come for hearing before the Supreme Court on Thursday and the ministry is likely to announce its decision on whether to conduct or cancel class 12 exams amid the pandemic only after the court's decision, concerned officials told HT.

The students who are supposed to appear in the Class 12 board examinations this year have suggested a few “innovative ways” to evaluate them in view of Covid-19 making it “unsafe” to assess them in a conventional manner, especially as some students may not be in the right frame of mind due to the loss of loved ones amid the pandemic.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has been admitted to AIIMS due to post COVID complications today, confirmed AIIMS Officials.

In the last hearing on the petition to cancel Class 12 exams, the Supreme Court had advised the center to adopt the last year’s policy for class 12 exams. In case the center is departing from taking up the policy, they should give reasons to the court and the Court will examine it further.

Many state governments have suggested the center first vaccinate the Class 12 students before taking the final decision on CBSE Board Exam 2021 Class 12. Punjab and Delhi have already shared their concerns over conduct of Class 12 exams before vaccination.

Last week around 300 Class 12 students have sent a letter petition to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana to cancel the decision of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to conduct a physical examination amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The students have also asked the Supreme Court to direct the Central government to provide alternative assessment schemes to the students.

Many state governments are having concerns that in case Class 12 exams are further delayed, the college admissions will also be delayed. Petitioner Advocate Mamta Sharma has informed the Supreme Court in its last hearing that process needs to be expedited, else students who wish to apply abroad will face problems in managing.

CBSE has not released the date sheet for Class 12 exams. The Board is expected to release the date sheet depending on what Education Minister announces regarding the conduct of Class 12 board exams. The government will also clarify if the examination will be held amid the pandemic situation.

Central Board of Secondary Education has proposed two options for conducting CBSE Class 12 examination. First conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centers or second conducting the exam for shorter duration having objective type questions at respective schools where students are enrolled between July 15 to August 26, 2021. The result for the same will be declared in September.

FICCI has written to the central government to cancel the Class 12 exams, cautioning that the current situation due to COVID-19 is not conducive for conducting a physical examination. In the letter written to Education Minister, the President of FICCI have mentioned that an alternate solution should be devised to determine academic progression.

Supreme Court will again hear the plea seeking cancellation of CBSE Class 12 board exams 2021 on June 3. The highest court has adjourned the matter to Thursday after Attorney General requested them to given two days time for the Centre to announce its decision on conduct on CBSE 12th exams.

RSS affiliated body has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on conduct on Class 12 board exams. The body has urged the PM to ensure that the exams are held and suggested various options including changing the pattern to objective and allowing students to solve question papers at home or take exams of only 2-3 subjects.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank after the high level meeting on May 23 had released a video on his official Twitter account. Check the video here.

Centre has informed the Supreme Court on May 31 hearing that the decision on CBSE Board Exams 2021 for Class 12 will be taken in the next two days. The decision as earlier said by Education Minister will be in favour of students and will be taken keeping the safety of the students in consideration amid pandemics.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has written to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank asking him to not holding the CBSE Class 12 Board Exam 2021 amid the pandemic. She said that children will be subjected to great injustice if they are pushed into circumstances that endanger their lives.

Education Minister is expected to announce CBSE Class 12 decision likely today. The announcement will be made by Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank anytime soon. The decision on conduct of exam, schedule and other information is expected to be released soon after the announcement.