CBSE’S exam ‘relief’ for sportspersons

NEWDELHI: CBSE made an exception to their exam dates for six Class 10 and Class 12 students this year, who were allowed to write their papers at a later date. These were representing India in international sports meets on the days of their respective exams. The relaxation was given under CBSE’S new policy, formulated in collaboration with the ministry of youth affairs and sports.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Anish Bhanwala of Karnal, who won the Gold Medal in the Rapid Fire Pistol in the 25m category at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, was allowed to take his exams at a later date.

According to CBSE chairperson Anita Karwal, the first such request she got was from Amolika Singh, a Class 12 badminton player from Lucknow, who represented India at the junior Dutch Open International tournament and Yonex German Open.

“The first time we did this was when I got a letter for Amolika Singh in March this year, from secretary, ministry of sports, Mr Rahul Bhatnagar. Then, other requests poured in. We took it to our exam committee and made it a policy immediately that if ministry of sports recommends then we will arrange for this,” she said.

The CBSE chief said the policy will be implemented every year from now on.

The students include a wheelchair-bound Class 10 student, Rekha, from Delhi’s Rajkiya Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, who won the wheelchair basketball championship at the Para Asian Games in Bangkok, and another Class 10 para athlete, Sehajpreet from Patiala won the Gold Medal with the women’s recurve team at a tournament in Dhaka.

Other tenth graders include Bhanwala and K Venkatadri got three silver medals at the South Asian Archery Championship.

Singh and Manav Thakkar are the Class 12 students given the chance. Thakkar is a table tennis player from Ajmer who participated in tournaments in Japan and Tunisia.