Mother Takes Class 12 Board Exam Just 10 Days After Giving Birth

In an inspiring display of determination, a 21-year-old student from Nanded appeared for the Class 12 HSC exam conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education with her 10-day-old baby, as authorities arranged a special ‘Matrusneh Kaksha’ at the exam centre to support her.

This is the season of board exams and we hear stories around students reaching late for exams, or studying long hours to ace the board exams, but this one story has left everyone stunned. A 21-year-old from Maharashtra’s Nanded city showed up to the examination centre with her 10-days-old baby in her lap. Shital Chandrakant Chitte appeared for the Class 12 Maharashtra Board exam in a special mother-friendly facility at the exam centre. She appeared for her Political Science exam on February 18 (Wednesday).

This is not the first time Shital attempted this brave action. She also appeared for her class 12 English exam merely two days after giving birth, i.e. on February 10. In her English exam, though, she was accompanied by her sister. Wanting to support her in this difficult task, the authorities of People’s College (exam centre) decided to create a dedicated ‘Matrusneh Kaksha’ (mother-friendly room). Authorities also brought in a cradle for the baby which allowed Shital to write her exam while the baby rested in the cradle.

Married two years ago, Shital did not want to give up on her education. Since there wouldn’t have been anyone at her home to take care of the baby — since her husband has to attend work — Shital decided to take her baby along to the exam centre. With the Class 12 examination crucial for her future, she chose not to miss it, and her family has supported her decision to continue her education, Chitte said.

Nanded education officer Madhav Salgar appreciated the college’s move to form a separate facility for the students during the exam. “Henceforth, we, on behalf of the administration, will make arrangements at exam centres for such students to motivate them,” he said. Maharashtra board’s Latur divisional president Sudhakar Telang claimed this is the first such initiative in the state.

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) commenced the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam for Class 12 on February 10 (Tuesday) with English exam, and will be concluding the board exams on March 11, 2026 (Wednesday). The board exams are being conducted in two shifts, with the first shift scheduled between 11 am and 2 pm, and the second shift scheduled between 3 pm and 6 pm.

Additionally, the practical, oral, category, and internal assessment exams, including those for science, health science, and home science, were held between February 2 and February 18, 2026.