Maharashtra Board includes caste category on hall tickets for upcoming exams, sparking debate among education experts | Representational Image
Mumbai: For the first time, hall tickets for secondary and higher secondary students appearing for the upcoming Maharashtra board examinations feature a section labeled “Caste Category.” This inclusion has sparked a debate among education experts and stakeholders.
On Saturday, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education issued an official clarification explaining the rationale behind this decision. Sharad Gosavi, chairperson of the State Board, stated that the addition aims to assist students in verifying and correcting their personal details.
“As per the rules, once a student leaves school, changes to their name, surname, parents’ names, date of birth, or caste in the school register are not permitted. To address any potential errors, the caste category has been included on the hall tickets, enabling students to identify and rectify mistakes through the hall ticket correction window,” Gosavi explained.
He further emphasized that this measure seeks to ensure students do not lose access to scholarships and benefits provided by various departments. “If any discrepancies arise in the future concerning a student’s information, the hall ticket will serve as a reference,” he added.
However, education experts have raised concerns over the necessity and appropriateness of including caste information on hall tickets. Mahendra Ganpule, former president of the Headmasters Association and an education activist, “There is no need to include caste information on a hall ticket, which is a temporary document. The school certificate, an official record, already contains caste details, and the school is responsible for maintaining its accuracy. Why, then, is it necessary to mention caste on the hall ticket?” he questioned.
Ganpule suggested that discrepancies could have been addressed more effectively without involving hall tickets. He proposed pre-filing examination forms for Classes 10 and 12 using data already available at schools. He recommended obtaining a signed declaration from parents to confirm the accuracy of the details provided.
The hall tickets for Class 12 students are already available, while those for Class 10 students will be issued starting January 20. The Class 10 board examinations are scheduled to begin on February 21 and conclude on March 17, 2025. Similarly, the Class 12 examinations will take place from February 11 to March 11, 2025.
