Delhi HC seeks CBSE response on calculator use for students with disabilities

November 5, 2026 /Posted byPrajwal EW / 0

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other authorities on a plea seeking permission for students with disabilities, other than Dyscalculia, to use basic calculators in Class 12 accountancy and mathematics examinations.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma issued notices to the Centre, CBSE, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and PARAKH (National Assessment Centre).

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vishal Dua and several parents seeking to extend the existing calculator facility, currently available only to students with Dyscalculia, to other categories of students with disabilities.

CBSE’s counsel informed the court that the matter was already under consideration and sought time to obtain instructions.

The petition stated that CBSE’s curriculum committee had approved the proposal for accountancy in November 2024, noting that the calculator ban imposed additional cognitive load on students and that permitting their use was aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Although the proposal was placed before CBSE’s governing body in December 2024, it has not been notified or implemented, the petitioners said.

They argued that lengthy calculations take up a significant portion of examination time, leaving students with less time to demonstrate their conceptual understanding of accountancy and mathematics.

The petitioners have sought the constitution of an expert committee to examine the use of calculators in mathematics and the extension of the existing facility to students with disabilities beyond those diagnosed with Dyscalculia.

They also said a representation submitted to the authorities in August 2026 seeking implementation of the proposal and a reasoned response remains unanswered.

Inputs from PTI

Also Read: CIC urges UGC, CBSE to strengthen disability access in educational institutions

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Delhi HC seeks CBSE response on calculator use for students with disabilities

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