Delhi HC seeks CBSE, NCERT, Centre’s response on plea to allow calculators in Class 12 board exams

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Union government to respond to a petition seeking permission for Class 12 students to use calculators in board examinations.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma issued notice on the plea and gave the authorities six weeks to file their replies.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Vishal Dua, a Pitampura resident, on behalf of himself and 10 other parents, through advocate Nitin Mangla. 

The respondents are the Union of India, CBSE, NCERT and the National Assessment Centre.

What the petitioners want

The parents have asked the court to direct that basic, non-programmable calculators be allowed in the Class 12 Accountancy exam. 

They have also sought that the question of permitting calculators in the Mathematics exam be examined by an expert body.

The plea says students in both subjects spend a lot of time on long manual calculations. 

This leaves them less time to show how well they understand and can apply concepts.

CBSE’s own panel backed the move

The petitioners pointed out that CBSE’s Curriculum Committee had approved a proposal to allow basic, non-programmable calculators in the Class 12 Accountancy exam. 

The decision was taken at its 70th meeting on November 25 and 26, 2024. The proposal was then placed before the CBSE Governing Body in December 2024.

According to the petition, despite the time that has passed, the recommendation has still not been put into effect.

NEP and NCF argument

The plea argues that allowing calculators would fit the broader shift laid out in the National Education Policy, 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023.

Both emphasise conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking over rote learning.

Facility for students with disabilities

The petition also asks that the calculator facility now available to students with dyscalculia be extended to other categories of students with disabilities.

The petitioners said they sent a detailed representation to CBSE and other authorities in August 2026 and asked for a reasoned reply. They allege they received no response within the stipulated time, which led them to approach the High Court.