Cuttack: The matriculation examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) will be held from February 21 to March 6. Along with the matric exam, the State Open School Certificate (SOSC) and Sanskrit Madhyama examinations will also be conducted simultaneously. The Board has announced that a total of 2,979 exam centers have been selected across the state for this purpose. This year, 5,10,770 students will appear for the matric examination.
For the first time, question papers will have QR codes and watermarks printed on each page to prevent malpractices. Mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside the exam centers. If anyone tries to take photos of the question papers, it will be easily traceable.
Strict Monitoring and Security Measures in Place
To ensure the safety of question papers, 314 nodal centers have been established. Out of the 2,979 exam centers, 286 have been identified as sensitive and highly sensitive. The Board will monitor these 286 sensitive centers and 314 nodal centers through direct video surveillance and live streaming to maintain strict oversight during the exams. This was announced by the Board Chairman, Mr. Srikant Tarai, during a press conference held at the Board’s headquarters in Cuttack on Thursday.
Preventing Malpractices and Viral Question Papers
Separate squads will be formed at the district level to monitor the exams. After the matric exams conclude on March 6, the answer sheet evaluation will begin on March 19 and is expected to be completed within 13 days.
Admit Cards Available from February 10 on the Board’s Website
The Board Vice-Chairman, Dr. Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, stated that any attempt to make question papers viral via mobile phones will be easily detected. The watermark on the question papers will help identify the specific candidate and exam center responsible for any leaks. Strict action will be taken against the involved candidates, invigilators, and center superintendents.
Secure Distribution of Question Papers and Answer Sheets
Starting from February 12, question papers and answer sheets will be dispatched from the Board’s office to the nodal centers under tight security. To control cheating, the Board and district education officers have formed 112 special squads.
Though the matric exam will be conducted alongside SOSC and Madhyama exams, separate exam centers have been designated for these exams. For 7,831 SOSC candidates, 102 exam centers have been set up, while 52 centers have been arranged for 3,792 Madhyama candidates.
Special Security Measures in Maoist-Affected Areas
In Maoist-affected areas, to ensure the security of question papers, 21 police stations and one beat house have been designated as nodal centers. This includes 7 police stations in Kandhamal district, 4 in Koraput, 10 in Malkangiri, and one beat house in Lamptaput.