The issue had emerged when students who are scheduled to appear for the HSC exams, starting February 11, received their hall tickets.
In a controversial move, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) printed caste categories on the hall tickets for students appearing for the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, drawing widespread criticism from academicians, parents, and various stakeholders and prompting the board to issue new hall tickets.
According to the latest declaration by the Maharashtra State Board, the caste-category column from the hall-tickets issued for HSC examinations now stands cancelled and newly printed hall-tickets will be issued on January 23. Expressing regret on part of the state board, in a circular issued on Saturday evening, secretary Devidas Kulal, said, “It is decided to withdraw the caste-category column from hall-ticket, considering the public sentiments.” The circular also adds that this will be applicable to hall-tickets of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) too, for which hall-tickets will be issued from January 20.
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The issue had emerged when students who are scheduled to appear for the HSC exams, starting February 11, received their hall tickets. Upon reviewing the documents, many were shocked to find a new section listing the caste category of each student. This unexpected addition sparked questions about its necessity and purpose, leading to a strong backlash.
Mahendra Ganpule, the former head of the Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, condemned the decision as “completely unnecessary.”
“The validity of any hall ticket is limited to the exam. Its sole purpose is to ensure that the right candidate is allowed to enter the exam hall. A few years ago, when the board included the exam timetable and other rules on the hall ticket, we appreciated it because it provided useful exam-related information. But adding a student’s caste category is excessive. If there are errors in the details, they can be corrected during the form-filling process,” he said.
The Maharashtra State Board initially defended its decision, stating that the inclusion of caste category was intended to help students correct any discrepancies in their personal information. Sharad Gosavi, chairperson of the MSBSHSE, had earlier clarified, “The purpose of displaying the caste category on the hall ticket is to help students rectify errors that may have occurred when they were enrolled in school. Once a student graduates, they cannot make changes to their personal details in the school’s register, which often leads to complications later, especially when applying for scholarships or further education.”
Despite this explanation, many teachers and senior academicians voiced concerns over the necessity of including caste categories on the hall tickets. Vasant Kalpande, a senior academician, argued, “There are a handful of students who may have mistaken. It is unjustified to subject lakhs of students to such unwarranted identification on their hall-tickets.” He also pointed out that in HSC, students wanting to take caste-based benefits have already availed it, making any confusion unlikely.
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Talking about the withdrawal of the decision, a senior teacher said, “It is good that the state board has withdrawn the decision, which definitely was a mistake…Decisions having wide-spread impact should be taken after considering all aspects.”
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
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