CBSE Board Exam Twice may lead to Question Paper Leaks, irregularities: Parliament Panel

The panel's report, submitted on March 26, highlights significant issues with the proposal of conducting CBSE Board Exam Twice, particularly regarding the enhancement of examination fees and the risk of question paper leaks and irregularities due to the exam structure.

CBSE 10th Exam 2025 Twice A Year: The Parliamentary Panel on Education has expressed serious concerns regarding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) draft policy on holding CBSE Class 10 board exams twice a year. The panel's report, submitted on March 26, highlights significant issues with the proposal, particularly regarding the enhancement of examination fees and the risk of question paper leaks and irregularities due to the exam structure.

Concerns over CBSE’s New Draft Policy

Earlier this year, the CBSE released a draft proposal to hold two rounds of Class 10 board exams starting in 2026. The policy includes a controversial proposal to collect fees from students for both rounds of exams, even if they opt for only one. The parliamentary panel has raised alarms about this proposal, particularly its potential to burden students financially and lead to increased opportunities for question paper leaks due to the two to three-day exam window for minor subjects.

The committee recommends that examination fees should only be increased for students opting for an additional attempt, not for all students. Given CBSE's substantial surplus revenues, there may be an opportunity to reduce the fees, making exams more affordable for all.

Increased Focus on Vacancies in Educational Bodies

The committee's concerns weren't limited to CBSE. It also examined several autonomous educational bodies under the Ministry of Education, highlighting critical vacancies in teaching and non-teaching positions at institutions such as the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (JNV), and National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS): Out of 56,810 total posts, 8,977 teaching and non-teaching staff vacancies remain, including 7,414 teaching vacancies.
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNV): The vacancy rate stands at 77%, with 6,858 out of 27,676 positions vacant.

The panel expressed deep concern that despite a previous parliamentary recommendation in 2023 to fill these vacancies, no significant progress has been made. This delay has had a negative impact on the functioning and reputation of KVS and JNV.

Worsening Dependency on Contractual Staff

Another area of concern raised by the parliamentary panel is the increasing reliance on contractual staff at KVS and JNV. In KVS, the number of contractual teachers increased dramatically, with 3,404 teachers on contract during the academic year 2023-24, rising to 6,734 in 2024-25. Similarly, in JNV, the number of contract teachers has surged in recent years, with 3,237 appointed for 2024-25.

The committee noted that contractual employment undermines both the quality of education and the constitutional provisions for reservation. The temporary nature of these positions means teachers are often insecure, which adversely affects their teaching effectiveness and commitment.

NCTE and Permanent Recruitment Issues

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has faced issues with permanent recruitment, with 63 vacancies against a sanctioned strength of 123. The panel has called for the lifting of the directive issued in September 2020, which prevented permanent recruitment. Furthermore, it has recommended the creation of a national registry for in-service and prospective teachers, which would streamline recruitment and ensure better teacher placement across institutions.

Recommendations to Revamp the National Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMSS)

The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMSS), which provides ₹12,000 per annum to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, was also scrutinized. The panel highlighted that the amount provided under the scheme is insufficient in light of rising inflation and recommended an increase to ₹36,000 per annum.

The committee also recommended relaxing the income ceiling criteria to accommodate more students under the scheme. It further noted that despite increasing enrollment, funding for the NMSS has remained stagnant since 2019-20, leading to a decrease in the number of scholarships over the years.

In summary, the parliamentary panel has issued urgent recommendations for reform in multiple areas, including the CBSE Class 10 board exam policy, the filling of vacancies in key educational bodies, and improvements to the National Merit Scholarship Scheme. These reforms are seen as critical to ensuring that India’s education system meets the growing demands of students, educators, and the wider society.

As the educational sector continues to evolve, the Ministry of Education and its autonomous bodies are now under pressure to address these concerns swiftly to ensure the smooth functioning of educational institutions across the country.

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