The Central government has officially abolished the ‘No-Detention Policy’ for students in classes 5 and 8 who fail their year-end exams in schools under its jurisdiction. The decision, announced on Monday, follows amendments to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which were notified in December 2024, marking five years since the Act's initial amendment in 2019.

Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy Says..

“Students who fail the annual examination in classes 5 and 8 will be failed. Failed students will have a chance to retake the test within two months, but if they fail again, they will not be promoted,” said Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy.

“The school will not expel a student until the 8th grade. The Central Government has taken this decision intending to improve the learning outcome among children,” he added.

According to an official notification by the Ministry of Education, if students fail to clear the annual exams, they will be given additional coaching and an opportunity to take a re-exam within two months of the results. Students who still fail the reexamination will then be held back in the same class.

"If the child appearing in the re-examination fails to fulfil the promotion criteria again, he shall be held back in fifth class or eighth class, as the case may be. During the holding back of the child, the class teacher shall guide the child as well as the parents of the child, if necessary, and provide specialised inputs after identifying the learning gaps at various stages of assessment," said the notification.

Notification applicable to over 3,000 schools

The Ministry’s notification will be applicable to over 3,000 schools run by the central government including Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navaodyala Vidyalayas and Sainik Schools.

After the 2019 amendment to the RTE Act, at least 16 states and two Union Territories (UTs) had already done away with the 'no-detention policy' for the two grades.