New Delhi: The Council for ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) and ISC (Indian School Certificate) has postponed all exams between Mar.19 and 31 due to the Coronavirus pandemic threat. The Council said the revised dates will be announced later once the situation improves.

“In view of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading across the country and with much uncertainty and speculation in the air, the Council, in the interest of the health and well-being of the students and the teaching community, has decided to postpone all ICSE and ISC year 2020 examinations scheduled to be conducted between 19 March 2020 and 31 March 2020,” the Council said in a statement today.

“The revised dates for conduct of the remaining papers shall be notified in due course of time,” the Council’s Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arathoon said in the statement today.

On Wednesday, G. Immanuel, Chairman of the Council, had said that the exams will be conducted as per the schedule after the CBSE announced it has postponed exams till March 31.

CBSE and JEE Main 

The Ministry of Human Resource Development  (MHRD) on Wednesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and all educational institutions in the country to postpone all exams including JEE Mains till March 31 in view of Coronavirus outbreak. 

“While the maintenance of academic calendar and exam schedule is important, equally important is safety and security of students, who are appearing in various examinations as also of their teachers and parents,” HRD Secretary Amit Khare said in an official communication.

“All ongoing examinations may be rescheduled after March 31. This would include CBSE, NIOS as also university exams. All evaluation work may be rescheduled after March 31,” he said.

Stressing on JEE Main, the HRD Secretary said: “Since JEE Main may require travel by examinees to different towns and the dates may clash with rescheduled CBSE and other Board exams, therefore, JEE Main should be rescheduled and the new date of JEE Main will be announced on March 31 after re-assessment of situation.”

The Ministry has requested all teachers and educational institutes to maintain regular communication with students and resolve their queries. It has also appealed to parents, students, and teachers not to panic.