CWSN Benefits in CBSE 2025 – Exemptions & Concessions for Special Needs Students

CWSN Benefits in CBSE

Candidates can check out the following consolidated concessions/exemptions along with the Standard Operating Procedures. These CWSN exemptions or concessions are applicable from the CBSE board 2020 examination onwards. Students studying in schools affiliated with the Central Board and interested in availing the CWSN exemptions/concessions should approach the concerned CBSE regional office through their institution’s head, preferably while in Class IX or Class XI. The request should be supported by the relevant medical certificate, along with the school head’s recommendation. Candidates who have entered their relevant category during their CBSE registration in Class IX or Class XI would be considered for the grant of exemption/concession.

CBSE General Exemptions/Concessions for CWSN Students

Medical Certificate Issuing Authority - The students' medical certificates issued by the following agencies/organisations will be considered for the granting of concessions to disabled candidates.

• Government hospitals controlled by either the Central/State governments through the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/ Medical Superintendent.

• Recognised institutes of national level via the National Association for the Blind, the Spastic Society of India, etc.

• Non-governmental organisations/practitioners registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India/the Central Government, and/State Government of the respective state.

• Competent authority at any place.

Facility of Scribe and Compensatory Time - Students with disabilities, as defined in the Act, are permitted to use a Scribe or allowed some compensatory time as mentioned below -

• For 3 hours of exam duration - 60 minutes

• For 2 and a half hours of exam duration - 50 minutes

• For 2 hours of exam duration - 40 minutes

• For 1 and a half hours of exam duration - 30 minutes

Appointment of Scribe and Related Instructions - The candidates should have the discretion of opting for his/her reader/scribe or be able to request the examination centre for the same.

• In case the exam centre provides the scribe/reader, the qualification of the scribe should not be more than the minimum exam qualification criteria.

• The minimum qualification criteria should always be matriculation or above.

• In case the students are allowed to bring their own scribe, the qualification should be one step below the qualification of the candidate taking the examination.

• Candidates will be allowed to change the scribe in case of an emergency.

• Free scribe services will be provided.

CBSE Specific Exemptions/Concessions to CWSN Students

Check out the important points below to learn more about the specific exemptions/concessions provided by the CBSE board to CWSN students.

Class X

• Candidates with disabilities will be exempted from the third language as defined in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

• CWSN students will have the option to study one compulsory language instead of two.

• Bonafide residents of Delhi appearing as private candidates cannot take subjects with a practical component at the Secondary level. Such candidates have the option of taking up Music, Painting, and Home Science as their study subjects.

• Physiotherapeutic exercises are considered equivalent to a health and physical education course offered by the board.

• For visually impaired students, alternative type questions are provided in place of questions that have visual inputs in the social science subject.

• Candidates will be allowed to use magnifying glasses/portable video magnifiers instead of large font question papers, with effect from 2020.

Class XII

The CWSN students appearing for the CBSE 12th board examination can check out the following points.

• Bonafide residents of Delhi appearing as private candidates cannot take subjects with a practical component at the Secondary level. Such candidates have the option of taking up Music, Painting, and Home Science as their study subjects.

• Disabled students are given separate question papers containing multiple-choice questions based on the practical component instead of practicals in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects.

• Alternative-type questions will be provided in place of questions having visual inputs in History, Geography, and Economics subjects.

• Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics subject question papers administered are without any visual input.