Sub: Designing of Certificates.

[Sanjeev Goyal]

 

PMOPG/E/2024/0184769

 

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

As per present practice, 2 separate documents are issued to students for each of the class X & XII i.e. pass certificate and mark sheet, though one single certificate containing all the information may be issued. In our country crores of citizens have acquired these basic qualfications from CBSE. These certificates are used for every admission, job application, registrations etc. So crores of photocopies can be saved by merging these documents. The maintenance efforts will also be reduced to half if clubbed, a lot of web storage space can also be saved. The printing expenses of CBSE would also be curtailed. Further the date of birth is also only printed on X certificate, for this reason only one has to attach this certificate even if not demanded, leading to wastage of paper and increasing handling efforts.  These are considered as life-long asset, so careful designing is needed. Any feeble printing would give a life-long pain to the holder. I would not be a surprise to see the crime of printing mark sheets printed on very thin paper – something which is to be preserved for the whole life. In this regard I feel there is large scope to redesign certificates after considering the following issues:

 

(1)        The pass certificate and mark sheet be clubbed into one document,

(2)        The certificate size should be standard A4, the smaller sizes are difficult to file and preserve. In any case, the photocopy only happens on A4, smaller size documents are also difficult to place in photostat tray.

(3)        The colour combination of certificates should be such so as to give a good impression on black & white photostat. Many certificates having yellow, light red lack clarity while getting black & white Photostat.

(4)        The XII certificate must contain the certificate number of X, so as to maintain continuity and avoid forgery & misuse,

(5)        To display cultural diversity of our country, the certificates may also contain some design or logo of respective state as per location of exam center.

(6)        The DOB must also be printed on XII certificate.

(7)        Under no circumstances certificate should be printed in feeble ink.

(8)        The thickness of paper must be at least 150 GSM or bond.

Above are just not suggestions but observations to confirm the fact that deeper thought process has to go into designing these important certificates.