The Government today said the consultation process on whether to make Class X CBSE examination optional is "almost complete" and indicated it will announce its decision soon.
"The consultation is almost complete and as soon it is over, we will announce the Government's decision," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here.
On the Government's decision to provide full interest subsidy on education loans to students from economically weaker sections, he said the move would help "lakhs of students" to pursue technical and professional courses from recognised institutes.
The scheme would be be applicable from the ongoing academic year. The Government today also gave its nod to seeting up seven more IIMs in the country, four of which will come up in the first phase in Raipur, Rohtak, Ranchi and Tiruchirapalli and impart executive programmes to begin with.
The other states where the IIMs will come up in the second phase are Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
According to Ministry sources, in the first phase there would be an intake of 140 students while in the second phase 560 students will be admitted every year.