The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought the Central government's response on a petition filed by Indian students studying in Gulf countries who have challenged the CBSE's special assessment scheme, alleging it has drastically reduced their marks and jeopardised their higher education prospects.
Petition Details
The students, represented by advocate Ashish Tripathi, argued that the assessment scheme adopted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the 2025-26 academic year was arbitrary and discriminatory. They claimed that the scheme resulted in a significant drop in their scores compared to their performance in internal assessments and pre-board exams, thereby affecting their eligibility for college admissions abroad and in India.
According to the petition, the CBSE implemented a special assessment formula for students abroad due to the pandemic-related disruptions. However, the students contended that the formula was applied without proper justification and failed to account for their actual academic performance. They sought directions to the CBSE to revise the marks or adopt a fairer evaluation method.
Court's Response
A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.S. Narasimha issued notice to the Ministry of Education and the CBSE, returnable in two weeks. The court directed the respondents to file their counter-affidavits within the stipulated time.
The bench observed that the matter involved the future of many students and required a balanced approach. It asked the CBSE to explain the rationale behind the assessment scheme and the steps taken to ensure parity with students in India.
Impact on Students
The petitioners highlighted that over 1,200 students from Gulf countries were affected by the scheme. Many of them had secured admission offers from foreign universities conditional on their CBSE scores, which were now at risk due to the lowered marks. The plea also pointed out that the scheme violated the principles of natural justice as no opportunity was given to the students to challenge the assessment.
“The board’s action has caused immense mental agony and financial loss to the students and their families,” the petition stated. It sought a direction to the CBSE to release the original marks based on the actual performance in the exams or adopt an alternative formula that does not prejudice the students.
Next Hearing
The matter is listed for further hearing after two weeks. The court has asked the Centre and the CBSE to submit their responses by then.
