A Class 10 student said, 'It seems that the government has already made up its mind and these interactive sessions are just a formality.'

'We do hard work for the whole year just to obtain good marks in our final exams. But if there are no top positions or percentages, then what is the use of hard work? This grading system would certainly affect the quality of students,' said another student.

Some teachers welcomed Sibal's initiatives.

Ashish Sharma, a parent and a government school teacher, said: 'Class 10 board exams put undue pressure on students. A grading system would certainly end the cut-throat competition that in some cases also causes depression among the students.'

'We want our HRD minister to introduce similar parameters even in colleges and in universities,' he added.