CBSE Class 12 Board Exams 2021 Cancelled

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 examinations have been cancelled, following a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening.

“In view of the uncertain conditions due to COVID and the feedback obtained from various stakeholders, it was decided that Class XII Board Exams would not be held this year. It was also decided that CBSE will take steps to compile the results of class XII students as per a well-defined objective criteria in a time-bound manner,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office issued after the meeting.

However, in case some students wish to take the exams, such an option would be provided to them by CBSE, as and when the situation becomes conducive, said the statement. The same option was offered last year as well.

According to the PMO statement, Mr. Modi stressed that the health and safety of students is of utmost importance and there would be no compromise on this aspect. He urged all stakeholders to show sensitivity for students and noted that the Covid situation is a dynamic one, with some states still under lockdown.

In today’s time, such exams cannot be the reason to put youth at risk, said the Prime Minister, adding that COVID-19 has already affected the academic calendar and the issue of board exams has been causing immense anxiety among students, parents and teachers.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as the School and Higher Education Secretaries. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank did not participate as he has been hospitalised for post-COVID complications.