Std X and XII Maharashtra board exams to be held in April-May

This picture has been used for representational purpose

HSC students from Maharashtra board will have their board exams between April 23 and May 29, while the SSC exams will be conducted from April 29 to May 31, said the government on Thursday, putting an end to the anxious wait of lakhs of students.

The Higher Secondary Certificate (Std XII) and Secondary School Certificate (Std X) exams are usually conducted in February and March. After a year of online learning amid the COVID pandemic, the offline exams will be held in the traditional pen and paper format.

"All prescribed safety regulations regarding Covid will be followed when holding board examinations," education minister Varsha Gaikwad told the media as she announced the exam dates. The government, however, is yet to release a detailed SOP - standard operating procedure - on whether there will be more exam centres this time and how many students will be allowed per class to maintain social distancing.

Gaikwad said practicals and oral assessments will also be held for HSC and SSC students between April 1 and 22 and April 9 and 28, respectively. As exams have been delayed, the minister said HSC results will be declared in the last week of July, while the SSC results will be out in the last week of August.