To bury or burn? CBSE left red-faced after 'communal' question in Class XII Biology paper
A f CBSE Class XII Biology examination that asked students to answer why they should promote “burying” and not burning” to protect air quality created uproar over social media
An environment-related question of CBSE Class XII Biology examination that asked students to answer why they should promote “burying” and not burning” to protect air quality created uproar over social media when people connected it with religious undertones. The question read: “Public all over India is very much concerned about the deteriorating air quality in large parts of North India. Alarmed by this, the Resident’s Welfare Association of your locality organised an awareness programme called “bury not burn”. They invited you, being a biology student. How would you justify your arguments that promote burying and not burning?”
The reaction was generated after the word “Dafnana” which is used for burial of bodies in Hindi was used in the Hindi version of the question. The question was posted on social media where people linked it to religion claiming that the board which is under Ministry of HRD, is promoting burying.
CBSE however denied that there was any religious undertone in the question and maintained that it was only talking about ways to prevent air pollution. They later also said that they have taken action against the officials involved in framing of the question.
The question was based on the syllabus of environment science from the chapter – “Ecosystem”, that talks about the harmful effects of burning leaves. The officials added that the question was not given in the book in the exact language but the reference about burning leaves was taken from the same chapter. “The question does not refer to anything other than burning of leaves. It should be taken the way it is and no other reference should be drawn from this,” a senior official at CBSE said.
An official statement from CBSE read: “The question no 23 in respect of Biology paper of Delhi scheme is value based question which intends to highlight proper disposal of waste by using landfills, compost pits etc. Therefore, the question is framed to inculcate environment friendly behaviour and increase the sensitivity towards safe disposal of waste.”
“However due to ambiguity in interpretation of question and its translation in Hindi, CBSE has taken strict action and debar the subject experts besides issuing show cause notice to the concerned officers also,” it added.