According to various media reports, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is gearing up to conduct class 10th, 12th board examinations in the year 2021. It is expected that CBSE shall conduct the board exams much earlier than expected. It is reported that the board is mulling this move as a delay in conducting exams will also impact the schedule of other competitive exams, such as NEET, JEE etc.
However, the board has not officially announced any date for the board exams. It has been reported that CBSE has been collecting feedback from schools and is expected to take a decision on the basis of the feedback soon.
Earlier, Manish Sisodia in a general council meeting chaired by Union Edu Minister Dr. RP Nishank, raised the concern to postpone CBSE board exams 2021 from March to May. He stated that “due to disruptions caused by corona virus, we need to defer board exams to May to ensure adequate preparation time for the students”. Furthermore, he also pointed out that the syllabus of board exam should be reduced to 50% in light of schooling loss.

Many school principals in the national capital and adjoining areas are also not in favour of postponing the board examinations in the year 2021 in view of the continuing closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the academic session of the students is already suffered a lot.
Despite all of this, many schools are following the time table and are trying to complete the syllabus as the board has already completed the process of list of candidates, examination forms (LOC). Reports claimed that the board will either shorten the syllabus or delay the exams by 45 to 60 days since the normal classes across the country were suspended for more than 7 months in the wake of the novel coronavirus.
The experts opined that actual decision on conducting the board exams can only be taken once normal classes resume, which is not likely to resume anytime soon. Hence, the actual date for the board exams cannot be determined.