CBSE exam fee hike: Delhi SC/ST students to continue paying Rs 50, Kejriwal government to pay rest

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had on August 11 increased the fees of Class 10 and Class 12 board exams by up to Rs 1150 for SC/ST students, according to officials. However, in the latest development in the matter, the CBSE has stated that it has decided to restore the earlier practice of charging only Rs 50 from schools for SC and ST candidates for Class 10 and 12. 

"Keeping in view facilitation for registration of SC/ST candidates of Delhi government schools for board examinations, the board has decided to restore the earlier practice of charging only Rs 50 from schools for SC and ST candidates for Class 10 and 12 Board's examinations," the CBSE said in the latest statement.

However, the board has further stated that "for the difference of the increased fees per candidate, it will take up the reimbursement with the state government once the number of candidates is finalised". 

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Last week, the CBSE had hiked the fees for general category students for both Class 10 and 12 from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500 for five subjects. While, the SC and ST students, who were paying Rs 350 earlier, were supposed to pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects. However, in a special arrangement only for Delhi, the SC/ST students were only paying Rs 50, while the balance was paid by the Delhi government.

The hike is applicable from the 2019-20 academic session. The students appearing for the Class 10 board exams are registered for it when they are in Class 9, and those appearing for Class 12 are registered when in Class 11.

Furthermore, the board had also said that Delhi government may reimburse the examination fee paid by SC/ST students of Class X and XII studying in government schools directly to the students as the board was to take the full amount from the SC/ST students.

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(With PTI inputs)