The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Wednesday granted exemptions from the lockdown to conduct board examinations for classes 10 and 12.
The MHA has also written to the States and Union Territories giving permission for holding board exams under certain conditions.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the exemptions had been granted by taking into consideration the academic interest of large number of students across the country.
“Taking into consideration the academic interest of large number of students, it has been decided to grant exemption from the lockdown measures to conduct Board examination for classes 10th & 12th, with few conditions like social distancing, face mask etc, for their safety,” Shah tweeted.
In his letter to chief secretaries of states and union territories, Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said under the guidelines on lockdown measures, opening of schools has been prohibited and as a result annual board examinations being conducted by state education boards, CBSE, ICSE for classes 10 and 12 were suspended.
Bhalla also said that requests were received from the state governments and CBSE for conducting board examinations and the matter has been examined in the home ministry.
Subsequently the exemptions from the lockdown measures have been granted for holding the board exams of Classes 10 and 12.
He also suggested some conditions that the States and Union Territories must follow while conducting board exams.
“In the containment zone, no examination centre will be permitted,” Bhalla stated in his letter.
The MHA has also made it mandatory for teachers, students and staff to wear face masks during examinations.
It has also asked the state governments to make provisions of thermal sanitizer and sanitizer at the examination centres and to ensure that social distancing norms are followed at the time of exams.
The MHA has also asked States and Union Territories to arrange special buses for transportation of students to examination centres.