CBSE Class 10 exams cancelled, Class 12 exams postponed due to Covid-19 surge

The central government on Wednesday announced cancellation of CBSE board exams for Class 10 and postponed Class 12 exams which were scheduled for May-June in the wake of Coronavirus crisis, officials said, reports Hindustan Times

Quoting the officials, the report says that the revised dates will be announced after June 1.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of rising cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The meeting was attended by Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', education secretary and other officials.

The exams were originally scheduled for May and June.

Many chief ministers had written to PM Modi seeking postponement of the Class 10 and 12 board exams in the wake of rising number of Covid-19 cases. The letter request came from Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

In his letter to Pokhriyal, Singh pointed to the prevailing Covid-19 situation and stressed that "it would only be appropriate that a decision is taken forthwith to postpone the Class 10 and 12 Board examinations".

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had demanded again for the cancellation of the CBSE exams due to Covid resurgence.

"My appeal to the government again is to cancel the CBSE exams," Priyanka wrote in Hindi on Facebook. On April 11, she had written a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also asked the Centre to reconsider its decision of holding the exams.

(with inputs from IANS)