Chandigarh, Feb. 18 -- Class 10 board examinations began on Tuesday with an uneasy start as the Mathematics Basic paper surprised students and teachers with its level of difficulty. Intended as the less rigorous alternative to Mathematics Standard, the Basic paper was described as "tricky," lengthy, and heavily application-based, raising concerns in several schools about its potential impact on results.

The dual-level Mathematics scheme was introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2019 to reduce academic stress and offer flexibility. Mathematics Standard is meant for students who plan to pursue the subject in Classes 11 and 12, while Mathematics Basic is designed for those who do not intend to continue. Although t...