MHA Allows CBSE, ICSE To Hold Board Exams During Lockdown

The Ministry of Home Affairs has exempted various educational boards from COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in order to conduct board exams. The MHA released a circular with guidelines to conduct the board examinations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted and also attached a letter by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to Chief Secretaries of all states informing about the government's decision

The guidelines are as follows:

1. In the containment zones, no examination centre will be permitted.

2. Wearing face masks by teachers, staff and students will be mandatory.

3. There shall be provision of thermal screening and sanitizer at the centres and social distancing in all the examination centres.

4. In a view of examination to be conducted by different Boards, their examination schedules should be staggered.

5. Special buses may be arranged by the state and UTs for transportation of the students to the examination centres.

The CBSE had earlier announced that it will only conduct board examinations in 29 subjects across 10th and 12th which are crucial for promotion. While CBSE 12th board exams will be conducted across the country, 10th board exams will only be conducted in North East Delhi which had seen several exams being postponed due to protests.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, which oversee the ICSE and ISC boards, had earlier announced that board exams will be held for all remaining subjects. These include six subjects for ISCE and eight subjects for ISC. The board has also announced that exams would also be held on Saturdays and Sundays with the results being announced within 6-8 weeks of the exams.