CBSE is considering two options for conducting exams: for major subjects only or a shorter paper of only 90 minutes carrying just objective-type questions.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has proposed that it will conduct the CBSE 12th Board examination 2021 only for major subjects.
The Board offers 174 subjects to Class 12 students, of which about 20 are considered major by the board. These include English, Mathematics, Biology, Business Studies, Physics, Chemistry, History, Political Science, Accountancy, Geography, and Economics.
A CBSE student writes examinations for a minimum of five and a maximum of six subjects, usually four major subjects.
Media sources report that the CBSE has proposed two options to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for conducting the Class 12 examinations.
Latest Update: The CBSE Class 12 examinations have been cancelled in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same has been announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 1, 2021. Read Here
One is to conduct the exams for the major subjects. CBSE has proposed that examinations for the major subjects will be held in the ‘existing format’ and at designated examination centres. And marks for minor subjects can be calculated based on the performance in the major subjects. However, this option can be exercised only if the Board has a window of three months- one month of pre-exam activities and two months for conducting the exams and declaration of results and another 45 days for compartment exams.
The second option is to conduct the exam in objective type format and short-answer questions. This will take only 45 days, the CBSE has proposed that Class 12 students sit for the major subject exams in their own schools, instead of designated centres. For this, the number of centres will have to be doubled. Under this format, each examination should be of one-and-a-half hours instead of three hours and a student will appear for one language and three electives (read major) subjects only. The marks for the fifth and sixth subjects will be decided based on the performance in the elective subjects.
If the Board opts for the second option, then the examinations will be conducted in two phases. Locations, where the situation is conducive for Covid situation, will have their exams in the first phase, remaining areas in the second phase. Both phases will be held two weeks apart. Any student who is not able to sit for an examination due to Covid infection will get another opportunity to appear for it.
These will be discussed and finalized at a key meeting of the state Education Ministers and Secretaries that will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 23.
Education Minister Ramesh Pohkriyal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani are also expected to attend the meet.
All State Education Boards, CBSE and ICSE had to postpone their Class 12 exams due to the pandemic situation. Similarly, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and other national exam-conducting institutions have also postponed their entrance exams for admissions to professional courses.
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Jasleen Kaur Taneja is an education editorial expert at Shiksha.com. She prepares content for school board exams. She has written 1,800+ articles with 2.8 crore reads.
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