Establishment of Centres for CBSE Exam in large numbers is a good thing to do amidst a challenging atmosphere, say parents and students.

There is need to adhere to social distancing norms for us to regulate the spread of the virus, he says. For that we need to have large number of Centres for CBSE Exam.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also is said to have announced taking that point into account.

Central Board of Secondary Education had to postpone the board examinations for two times. First time CBSE board exams were postponed as protests with regards to CAA rocked the entire nation.

Soon after the protests subsided the exams were again held only to be halted for the second time owing to outbreak of corona virus.

Ever since then students and teachers had been eagerly waiting for announcement of the dates, says M. Rajaram, a biology teacher for 10th standard.

The wait for the CBSE exams is only natural as a pass in these exams is essential to move ahead in life. Pass in 12th standard is required to attend entrance exams for higher education.

Now the announcement has come that there would be 15,000 Centres for CBSE Exam. The features are not limited to that alone.

The Centres for CBSE Exam are usually allotted at places different from the respective schools of the candidates. This time it is quite different from the usual practise.

Centres for CBSE Exam are the schools where the students are enrolled. Sources say, that individual schools will ensure social distancing norms.

Also read ‘CBSE pending 10th and 12th Exam 2020 results will be declared by July end‘

Alloting the enrolled school as Centres for CBSE Exam writing will ensure the students donot have to travel long distances unnecessarily.

The sources further say that no Centres for CBSE Exam will be established in containment zones. States will arrange transport for the students from these areas to reach their Centres for CBSE Exam.

Taking the point of social distancing one can perhaps infer that each room in Centres for CBSE Exam will perhaps accommodate only about 10 candidates.

Also read ‘CBSE pending 2020 exam date sheet is released‘

Guidelines issued earlier along with exam datesheets say that students reaching Centres for CBSE Exam must bring their own sanitizers and also wear a face mask.

Students must reach Centres for CBSE Exam much before the scheduled time. This will help students enter the examination room at the specified time in accordance with social distancing norms.

It must be recollected that CBSE 12th exams will be held across the country and CBSE 10th exams will conducted for students from north-east Delhi.

Sources further say this time even evaluation is also being takenup to correct the answersheets of students who have already written their exams.

Also evaluation will be conducted parallely for the pending CBSE Exams for 10th and 12th exams. This will help faster declaration of results.

The plan is to declare the exam results, particularly that of 12th exams before the onset of JEE Mains and NEET. This year has indeed stood unique with regards to school education. This is because 2020 is the year where school exams and higher education tests could not be conducted on time. The wish is for normalcy to return at the earliest.

The technology was developed by Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team from the Department of Chemical Engineering in IIT Kanpur.

To facilitate its widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has signed a technology transfer MoU with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

The pact was signed in the presence of Prof. Raja Angamuthu, Associate Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (Inventor).

Device

The Soil Nutrient Sensing Device is a compact, smartphone-compatible innovation that provides real-time soil nutrient analysis, addressing the critical gap in timely soil testing for Indian farmers, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Traditionally reliant on district laboratories, farmers often face delays in receiving soil health assessments, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Portability

Designed for portability and ease of use, the device can assess multiple soil parameters simultaneously, storing data on a cloud server, with a single charge supporting up to 250 tests, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

This pioneering device leverages Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to deliver instant soil health insights directly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for chemical reagents and complex testing processes.

By enabling precise nutrient management, the technology has the potential to transform agriculture, enhancing crop productivity, reducing fertilizer overuse, and contributing to both improved farmer incomes and environmental sustainability, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

By providing instant, reagent-free testing with Near Infrared Spectroscopy, this technology empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize fertilizer use, and boost productivity, he said.

Through our collaboration with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies, we aim to transform Indian agriculture and take this pioneering innovation to global markets, supporting the vision of sustainable farming practices, he said.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team for this groundbreaking development, he said.

Inventor

Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (inventor) said their development is a culmination of years of research and hard work aimed at addressing the real challenges farmers face in soil health assessment.

It’s truly gratifying to see this innovation, which offers immediate and accuratesoil analysis, now being transferred to ScaNxt Scientific Technologies for broader adoption, said Prof Jayant Kumar of IIT Kanpur.

This device not only empowers farmers with instant insights but also supports the creation of a national soil stack, aiding in better fertilizer management and promoting sustainability, he said.

I am excited to witness the positive impact it will have, both on the ground and at the policy level, as it contributes to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural landscape, he said.

Their collaboration with IIT Kanpur through the joint MoU will allow us to advance soil testing technologies further, integrating micro and secondary nutrient analysis into our BhuParikshak device, he said.

By combining NIR Spectroscopy, IoT, and AI/ML, we aim to provide farmers with even more precise and actionable data to optimize nutrient management and drive sustainable agricultural growth, he said.

Market and collaboration

The Indian soil testing equipment market, currently valued at approximately USD 114.43 million as of 2024, is set for significant expansion.

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient agricultural productivity solutions and the need for climate resilience, this market is projected to reach USD 145.83 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.08%.

This collaboration sets the stage for a transformative shift in soil health management, equipping farmers with immediate, data-driven insights and promoting sustainable agricultural practices both in India and globally.

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