Head: SSC students can use pencil for language paper diagrams 

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has clarified that the students will no longer lose marks for using a pencil instead of a pen to draw diagrams in Marathi, English, and Hindi language exams. 

The state board has made it clear that students of class 10th can use a pencil for drawing paragraph-based comprehension diagrams in language subjects. The question paper instructs the students to use a pen to write the answers and also for drawing diagrams, however from now on students will be allowed to use a pencil and marks will not be reduced for students using them. 

The state board took this decision after receiving a lot of complaints from students and parents saying that half marks were deducted if students used pencils to draw the diagrams in language subjects. Earlier pencils were only allowed for science and maths exams but the board has not made it clear that students can make use of pencils even for subjects like Marathi, Hindi and English. 

The rule to use only pens was introduced several years ago by paper setters and it would change from the next year. This year the moderator would be informed orally to allow pencils for diagrams.