CBSE's clarification: CBSE 10th 12th Board Exams 2021 to have no questions from reduced syllabus

CBSE also added that the topics being mentioned “as dropped are either being covered by the rationalized syllabus or in the Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT”.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) released a clarification notice amid outrage and protests over the changes made in the syllabus of Classes 9 to 12 for the academic year 2020-21. CBSE said the reduction or “rationalization” of syllabus for classes 9 to 12 had been "interpreted differently" and that it was a “one-time measure” to reduce the exam stress of students due to the ongoing pandemic situation, lockdown and to prevent learning gaps.

The national education board faces criticism after removing key chapters such as Democratic Rights, Food Security in India, Federalism, Citizenship and Secularism from school the CBSE Syllabus 2020-21 to reduce the burden on students amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

CBSE on July 7 announced the reduction of the syllabus for 2020-21by 30 per cent because of the "extraordinary situation" as the world fights the coronavirus pandemic.

On July 8, commenting on CBSE 10th Board Exams 2021 and CBSE 12th Board Exams 2021, the board clarified that no question will be asked from the reduced syllabus in the Board Exams 20-21 only.

The official notice released by CBSE states, "The schools have also been directed to follow the Alternative Academic Calendar prepared by NCERT for transacting the curriculum. Therefore, each of the topics that have been wrongly mentioned in media as deleted have been covered under Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT which is already in force for all the affiliated schools of the Board.” 

Check CBSE 12th Deleted Syllabus Here

Check CBSE 10th Deleted Syllabus Here 

The Board also added that the topics being mentioned “as dropped are either being covered by the rationalized syllabus or in the Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT”.

CBSE Syllabus reduction received backlash from various directions. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is "shocked" by CBSE’s decision to drop topics such as democratic rights, federalism and secularism from the Economics and Political Science syllabuses of Classes 9 to 12 in all CBSE-affiliated schools.

Also Read: CBSE 12th Syllabus Reduced by 30%; Will it affect NEET and JEE Main 2021?

Tweeting from her official Twitter handle, Bengal CM said, "Shocked to know that the central government has dropped topics like citizenship, federalism, secularism and partition in the name of reducing CBSE course during the COVID-19 crisis.”

The academicians also claimed that it appears more importance was given to "political considerations" than academics in reducing the syllabus.

Commenting on the reduced syllabus, a Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of Social Sciences, Surajit Majumdar added, "On the face of it, it appears that there is some ideological element in the choice of what is deleted. How do you optimise learning during this time? You are trying to reduce the investment in education, you are compromising on the learning of students.” Professor Majumdar further added, “Reduction does not have to be because of the pandemic but for optimisation of learning".

The clarification notice released by CBSE is given below:

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