New Delhi: The Delhi High Court sought responses from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Union Government on a plea seeking permission for Class 12th students to use calculators in board examinations.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma issued notice on the petition and granted the authorities six weeks to file their responses.The petitioners have sought directions to permit the use of basic, non-programmable calculators in the Class 12th Accountancy examination and to have the issue of allowing calculators in Mathematics examined by an expert body.According to the plea, students appearing for Accountancy and Mathematics examinations are required to devote considerable time to lengthy manual calculations, reducing the time available to demonstrate their understanding and application of concepts.The petitioners have pointed out that CBSE’s own Curriculum Committee had approved a proposal to permit basic, non-programmable calculators in the Class 12th Accountancy examination during its 70th meeting held on November 25 and 26, 2024.The plea further contends that permitting calculators would be in line with the broader shift envisaged under the National Education Policy, 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023, which emphasise conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking rather than rote learning.The petitioners stated that they had submitted a detailed representation to the CBSE and other concerned authorities, seeking a reasoned response. However, no response was allegedly received within the stipulated period, prompting them to approach the High Court.
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