Varsha Gaikwad

Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad has tested positive for COVID-19, on December 28. She attended the winter session of the State Legislative Council on December 27, and also visited Uttar Pradesh recently. She stated that she has "mild symptoms", and has asked those who were in close proximity with her to take precautionary measures. Notably, Gaikwad had contracted the virus for the first time, last year. 

The Maharashtra government has postponed the grade X and XII Maharashtra state board examinations to May and June, 2021 respectively. Citing fresh surge in the COVID-19 cases, the state’s education minister Varsha Gaikwad in a video message said, "We will ask the other boards to follow decision that the state board has taken." The board exams for HSC and SSC were earlier scheduled to start from April 23 and 29.

The Maharashtra government has decided to reopen schools for classes 9 to 12 from November 23. It has also hinted a possible delay in the board exams owing to the COVID-19. According to the state's Education Minister, the board exams are unlikely to occur before May. Also, the government is keen on conducting physical classes prior to the exams. The government had also deducted 25% of syllabus for compensating the time loss.