As there is rapid surge  in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country , which has impacted almost all sectors including education as a whole , all major  academic exams like Class 12 has been detained for the timing in the country. Last month, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) took a major decision regarding the conduct of Board examinations in the country by cancelling the CBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2021 and postponing the CBSE Class 12 Board. CBSE conducts board exams for 174 subjects of Class 12 students, among which 20 subjects are considered ‘major’.

As per latest news, CBSE made it clear that it is likely to hold the Class 12 board exam 2021 without declaring the exact dates. Based upon this the Union government has invited feedback on the arrangement of Class 12 examination from  different states and students as well as parents and teacher’s  communities for this year. While the Union government is awaiting State’s Feedback, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal in a National Consultation held on Sunday underlined the importance of the school-leaving examination.

The EDUCATION  MINISTRY also emphasized the role of  Class 12  exam results on future academic career of every  student’s life and told the  negative impact  when students are promoted without an effective assessment procedure.

In the meeting, School Education Secretary Anita Karwal told the importance of Class 12 exams and  informed the States that the Union government is inclined towards going ahead with the exams in a brief way

There is possibility of CBSE Class 12 Board Exams can be conducted in a modified format in which students will appear for examinations in 19 major subjects, at their own schools. The main motto is to avoid crowds and limit the movement of students and teachers.

Most probable changes may happen in Class 12 Board Exams:

1. PROBABLE TIME OF EXAM- 2^nd to 3^rd week of -July.
2. DURATION OF EXAM - 90-minute instead of 3hrs
3. Objective questions on OMR (Optical Mark Reader) sheets to be evaluated at the schools themselves
4. Frequency of Exams -may be in 2 PHASES—
   1. July 15 to August 1 and
   2. August 5 to August 26

Results -Mid of September

Previously, CBSE board has proposed two options to conduct examinations. The first (Plan A) is to conduct exams for 19 major subjects in the existing pattern, for a period of three months. But since the Pandemic situation has made it difficult to find an uninterrupted three-month window, the government is keen to adopt 2nd option (Plan B) of shorter duration of exam.

A meeting was called by the Centre on Sunday with state governments to seek their feedback on the two options proposed and was chaired by Defence Minister Rajanth Singh.

As per sources, States have been asked to send their feedback in writing by May 25 after which the Education Ministry is expected to announce their final decision on 1^st June.

CBSE Class 12 board exam 2021: Karnataka recommends plan B- FROM TOI