New Delhi, November 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the CBSE, Union Ministry of Education, NCERT and PARAKH on a PIL seeking permission for Class XII students to use basic, non-programmable calculators in board examinations, particularly Accountancy.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma issued notice, returnable within six weeks, and listed the matter for further hearing on January 27, 2027. The hearing was deferred after CBSE sought time to obtain instructions.
The petition, filed through advocate Nitin Mangla, seeks permission for calculators in Accountancy and, after an expert review, Mathematics. It also seeks extension of the facility, currently available to students with Dyscalculia under a January 2020 CBSE circular, to other categories of students with disabilities.
The petitioners told the court that CBSE had not taken a definitive stand despite a recommendation by its Curriculum Committee. The committee, at its 70th meeting on November 25-26, 2024, had approved a proposal allowing basic calculators in Class XII Accountancy, noting that the restriction imposed an unnecessary “cognitive load” on students. The proposal was subsequently placed before the Board’s Governing Body at its 140th meeting on December 26, 2024, but has not been notified or implemented, the plea stated.
CBSE’s counsel submitted that the Board offers 204 subjects and calculations are involved in several of them. Any decision would require expert committee recommendations on the relevant subjects and logistical aspects. The counsel also said examination rules fall under the Board’s examination committee, while the recommendation cited by the petitioners came from the curriculum committee.
The petition argues that allowing calculators would align with the National Education Policy 2020’s focus on competency-based learning rather than rote memorisation. It further contends that the continued restriction, despite the expert committee’s recommendation, is arbitrary and violates Article 14 of the Constitution.
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