A final decision regarding the fate of the CBSE Class 12 board exams is anticipated to be delayed as the Union Education Minister, RP Nishank has been reportedly admitted to hospital following post-COVID complications. A final decision regarding the Class 12 board exams of CBSE and CISCE was scheduled to be taken today i.e. on June 01, 2021. However, due to such a turn of events, there is widespread speculations that the final decision will now be further delayed.
With the CBSE Class 12 board exams anticipated to be delayed now, a direct implication of the same will be manifested on the exam date of the pending sessions of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) April and May 2021 sessions. The JEE (Main) 2021 exam has already been conducted by the National Testing Agency for the first two sessions i.e. February and March 2021. However, the April and May 2021 session exams were postponed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
While the Union Education Minister has earlier assured that a final decision would be taken regarding the fate of board exams of the CBSE and CISCE on June 01, 2021, as per the latest reports, the Minister has been hospitalized at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi following post-COVID health complications. The Minister has earlier contracted the Coronavirus in April 2021 but was able to recover and resume office quickly.
In a high profile meeting of central and state education ministers and other stakeholders of the educational realm held earlier in May 2021, it was proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education that the Class 12 board exams can be conducted for a reduced exam duration and modified exam pattern in home centres. While a broad consensus was evident in favour of the proposal, nothing was confirmed and following the conclusion of the meeting, Education Minister RP Nishank assured students that a decision will be taken by June 01, 2021.
From a different perspective, the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2021, which stands postponed may also be delayed if the CBSE Board exams 2021 are delayed. It may be noted that the minimum educational qualification required for appearing in the JEE (Main) exam is passed or appearing in the Class 12 board exams. Furthermore, for admission to UG programs in Engineering and allied field through the JEE Main exam, candidates must have passed Class 12 board exams with documentary evidence at the time of admission. With the April and May 2021 sessions of the JEE Main 2021 exam standing postponed as of now, it becomes highly likely that the exams may also get delayed now that there is an inevitable delay in deciding the fate of the Class 12 board exams.
