New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the central government and the related educational institutions on a plea seeking permission to use calculators in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 board examinations. The court issued notices on the public interest litigation to the central government, CBSE, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the National Assessment Centre (PARAKH). All parties have been asked to file their responses within six weeks.
The petition has been filed by Vishal Dua and other parents. It seeks permission to use basic, non-programmable calculators in Class 12 accountancy and mathematics examinations. The petitioners said that in these subjects, lengthy calculations done by hand consume considerable examination time. As a result, students do not get sufficient time to present their conceptual understanding of the subject and solutions to questions in a better manner.
The petition also stated that the CBSE curriculum committee had approved a proposal in November 2024 to allow basic calculators in the Class 12 accountancy examination, but it has not yet been implemented. In addition, a demand has been made to constitute an expert committee to consider the use of calculators in mathematics.
The petitioners have also sought extension of the calculator facility available to students affected by dyscalculia to other categories of students with disabilities. CBSE’s counsel told the court that the matter is under consideration and sought time to take instructions from the board.
For now, the High Court has not granted permission to use calculators. Until there is any change in the board’s existing examination system, students will have to follow the prescribed rules.
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