A true leader addresses every issue with a holistic outlook without being condescending.

No
matter how severe and sensitive a problem is, a true leader ensures that, in the end, everyone
emerges stronger and more united than ever before. As the world faces an unprecedented crisis
and the entire education system is posed with challenges due to the pandemic, the cancellation
of Class 12 CBSE Board exams is one of the most decisive calls made by the Honourable Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi. We cannot deny that the Class 12 CBSE Board examination
plays a significant role in a student’s career graph and her roadmap for life. However, we have
ensured that there is no compromise on our students' health and safety, which has always been
of prime importance to us.

Our Honourable Prime Minister has always considered our students as the country's future and
thus, believes in the mantra of ‘Students First’. Be it through social media or the platform of
‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’, the Honourable Prime Minister has always deemed it necessary to listen
to the voices of our students. As the uncertainty loomed over the Class 12 CBSE Board Exams,
a high-level meeting under the Chairmanship of Honourable Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
was held on May 21. Perhaps, this has been the first and one of the broadest pan-India
participatory consultation drive with all State Education Ministers, Education Secretaries and
Chairmen of State Education Boards to discuss the future roadmap and possible avenues
regarding the conduct of Class 12 Board examination. The valuable inputs and suggestions
received after the consultations were analysed at the highest level by the Prime Minister
himself. To bring an end to the anxiety of students and their parents, the Honourable Prime
Minister held a review meeting and decided in favour of the students keeping in view their
safety and security amid the pandemic.

The most crucial yardstick behind this historic decision by the Honourable Prime Minister is
that “every single life is precious, and safety of our kids is of the highest priority”. Conducting
exams for students in the prevailing COVID scenario would have cost a loss of life and
endangered the health of our younger generation. Though the number of cases is reducing,
some states are still in the local containment process and lockdown. Exposing our kids to such
a scenario would have been a threat to their life. Hence, the decision to cancel the board
examination is not only student-centric but also a future-oriented decision. The decision has
made it clear that our government has kept nothing above the safety and well-being of our
students. There is no point in forcing students to take the examination under extreme stress and
risk to their life.
The decision to cancel the CBSE Class 12 Board examination will help lakh of students explore
career opportunities in international colleges and universities for the coming academic sessions
and other competitive examinations. It will also help our students get aligned with the
upcoming session, prevent loss of their valuable time, and mitigate academic losses. Some
students who wish to undertake examination will get adequate opportunities to take the exams
as an additional chance in an improved scenario. We are committed to providing ample
opportunity to the merit seeking students who wish to undertake the board examinations.

As the Union Minister of Education, I would like to assure everyone that the results of Class
12 will be declared as per a well-defined objective criterion. This shall be done in a time-bound
manner while ensuring the categorisation of merit and inclusivity. A comprehensive planning
by CBSE and the ministry official is in the pipeline to formulate the mechanism which shall
accommodate all the possible options of evaluation and quantification. After this historic
decision, I am sure that the State Governments will take the lead and accord the top-most
priority to the safety of our youth. The mental freedom and strength achieved through this
decision will go a long way in contributing to the general well-being of students, families,
society, and the future of our country. It should not be looked at in isolation but holistically as
a future-oriented and a student-centric decision. Honourable Prime Minister has proved that
leadership is all about empathy and the ability to relate and connect with people to inspire and
empower their lives. I hope that all the stakeholders will show a similar level of empathy and
sensitivity towards our students. As Mahatma Gandhi has said that “The future depends on
what we do in the present”, the decision taken by our Prime Minister today will benefit the
future of our students.