CBSE Board Exam 2021 Date Updates: CBSE 10th, 12th exams to begin from May 4

The endless wait for Class 10 and 12 school going children to know the exact dates for the CBSE Class 10 and 12 Board exams came to an end on the last day of the year. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Thursday (December 31) announced the CBSE 10th, 12th board exam 2021dates. The education ministry has said that CBSE practical exam will begin from March 1 and Board Examination will commence on May 4.

Results will be declared by July 15. The practical examinations for Class X and Class XII board students will begin on March 1, 2021. CBSE said that the date-sheet will be issued soon.

"The board examinations for Class X and XII will commence from Tuesday, May 4, 2021," Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said. 

"Schools will be allowed to conduct practical exams from March 1. Date sheet for both the classes will be issued soon. The results will be declared by July 15," Union education minister announced. Usually, practical exams are conducted in January and written exams begin in February and conclude in March. However, the exams are being delayed this session in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several schools have already conducted pre-board exams online to keep the students prepared. Schools across the country were closed in March to contain the spread of COVID-19. They were partially reopened in some states from October 15. 

The ongoing COVID-19 has resulted in most of schools and educational institutions taking place online. The CBSE has cut the 2021 board exam syllabus for Class X and XII by 33 percent.

Every year, close to 1.5 million students write the CBSE Class XII board examinations and 1.8 million students appear for the CBSE Class X board examinations. CBSE and the education ministry under Nishank had sought feedback from students, schools and teachers on conducting the board examinations in 2021 amidst the Coronavirus outbreak.

In 2020, CBSE was among the education boards that had cancelled examinations for the remaining Class XII papers in the wake of the pandemic. The exams were postponed in March once the lockdown was announced to contain the virus.

The education minister said that the government has taken a slew of steps to ensure academic continuity during COVID-19. He said that unlike a few other countries where students may lose one full year owing to the pandemic, India has rapidly adopted the online learning system.

"The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that students even in the farthest corners of the country do not lose out in education as physical classes in schools are closed," he added.

The Education minister also mentioned that the Swayam Prabha platform and DIKSHA platform have benefited students, especially those who will be appearing for board exams in 2021. Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the government had announced that the Swayam Prabha platform would have 12 more channels for offering educational content across India.