The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has been placed under heavy scrutiny after a caste category field was introduced on this year’s examination hall tickets. Widespread criticism was voiced by parents, teachers, and students, leading to the eventual withdrawal of the caste column. A statement was issued by the board on Saturday evening, apologizing for the inclusion and announcing that revised hall tickets would be made available for download from January 23. It was clarified that other details on the hall tickets would remain unchanged.
The addition of caste details was regarded as unnecessary and divisive by stakeholders, who expressed concern over its potential to create bias among students. It was emphasized by parents that hall tickets, being purely academic documents, should not include such information. Fears were raised that the measure could perpetuate stereotypes and distract from the primary purpose of education. Initially, the move was defended by the MSBSHSE. It was explained that the caste field had been introduced to verify student records and facilitate the proper distribution of government benefits such as scholarships. According to MSBSHSE officials, the change was designed to allow parents to address any discrepancies in caste data recorded during school enrollment. The information was also intended to assist the Social Justice Department in compiling statistics for welfare programs. As part of the revisions, a consolidated schedule of subject-specific exam dates had also been added to the hall tickets.
Despite these justifications, the move was met with widespread resistance. Reports of inaccuracies in the caste data printed on hall tickets were shared by many students. Schools were instructed to facilitate corrections, but parents were angered by the ₹200 fee charged for each correction. The charge was described as both unfair and burdensome, adding to the dissatisfaction. Criticism was directed at the board by education activists and professionals. It was pointed out that the sole purpose of hall tickets is to allow students to appear for exams, and any additional information was considered inappropriate. The board was accused of introducing unnecessary complications and creating confusion.
It was argued that hall tickets are only valid for the duration of exams, rendering the inclusion of caste details impractical. The measure was dismissed as having no value in the examination process. Further discontent was caused by a new policy introduced by the board concerning exam centre management. Under this rule, it was mandated that directors and supervisors of exam centres must belong to schools other than those hosting the exams. While transparency and fairness were cited as reasons for the change, educators, particularly in rural areas, criticized the policy. In villages where only one school serves as an exam centre, the rule was considered impossible to implement. Teachers’ organizations argued that the policy demonstrated a lack of trust in educators and failed to consider the realities of rural education.
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