NAGPUR: The central government has asked states to send suggestions by May 25 about conduct of CBSE XII board exams and other entrance exams. On Sunday, Union cabinet ministers held a virtual meeting with education ministers from all states and sought their views about conducting these exams. Even though autonomous institutes conduct these exams, it’s important to bring states on board as exam centres will be located in their geographical jurisdiction. Maharashtra school education minister Varsha Gaikwad stressed on the need for “non-examination route” but kept her options open, citing pending discussions with state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Gaikwad said, “Keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic situation and the projection that children are vulnerable to new strains of coronavirus, option of a non-exam route for Std XII students should be actively examined. Health and mental well-being of children, their families must be our priority. Students and parents have been sharing their concerns regarding sitting for exams amid the pandemic.” She added that the government focus should now be on evolving a uniform assessment policy, vaccination of all teachers, students and safe resumption of in-campus schools and colleges in the next academic year. Defence minister Rajnath Singh presided over the meet along with education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, Smriti Irani and Prakash Javdekar. Both Irani and Javdekar have held the Union education minister (previously HRD) portfolio. Pokhriyal said Sunday’s meet had been called “to enable central and state boards and other examination agencies to be able to examine various options available in the present challenging circumstances through a consultation process”. The discussions were held around two themes, board exams to be conducted for Class XII by the Central Board of Secondary Education and other state boards, and the All-India entrance examinations for various higher education institutions and professional courses. Various options regarding the methodology, process, duration and timings of the exams were discussed. Singh reiterated that the priority of the government is to conduct all examinations in a safe and secure environment.