Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that students will now be able to take the 10th and 12th board exams twice in one academic year. He said that this step would be implemented in the school year 2025-26.

Following the launch of the PM SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) scheme in the Indian city of Chhattisgarh, which will upgrade 211 schools in the state, Pradhan stated on Monday (Feb 19) that the new National Education Policy (NEP) is aimed at reducing academic stress on students. The new NEP was introduced by the government in 2020. The event took place in Raipur at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Auditorium.

The minister highlighted the idea of implementing ten bag-free days in schools each year and encouraging kids to participate in art, culture, and sports, among other things. According to the Centre's NEP 2020 plan, students will be allowed to take the 10th and 12th class board exams twice beginning with the 2025-26 academic session.

10th and 12th board exams
Image: Zee Business

As per the New Curriculum Framework (NCF) published by the Ministry of Education in August last year, board exams are scheduled twice a year to ensure that students have adequate time and opportunities to perform. Students will also have the option of keeping their best score regardless of how they fare in other exams.

NEP aims to provide stress-free education, connect kids to culture, and prepare them for the future

The minister asked students who attended the programme if they were satisfied with the changes made to board exams and asked them to keep the best grades they received after taking both tests.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's aim for the NEP is to keep kids stress-free, provide them with quality education, connect them to culture, and prepare them for the future. "This is the formula for making India a developed country by 2047," the minister stated.

Pradhan slammed the previous Congress government in the state, claiming that education was not a priority; however, after the BJP took control in the state and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was appointed to the position in December last year, the education sector was given top priority.

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