Bhubaneswar: All arrangements are in place to ensure smooth conduct of the annual High School Certificate (HSC) examinations beginning February 19, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said on Wednesday while emphasising on advanced anti-malpractice measures.
Speaking to the media, Gond said that question papers feature QR codes and watermarks to prevent tampering or paper leaks. CCTV cameras are installed at examination centres along with AI-enabled surveillance at key locations and 322 nodal centres for real-time monitoring to create a fair, inclusive, and stress-free examination environment for all students appearing for the Matric exams, he noted.
“This time too, the exams will be conducted very smoothly. Besides CCTV cameras, police and flying squads have been deployed at the centres to prevent malpractices. There is also a complete ban on mobile phones and other electronic gadgets inside exam centres for candidates and staff,” he said, expressing confidence that these safeguards will help students achieve good results.
Meanwhile, question papers have been dispatched under strict security, including GPS tracking and escorted vehicles, to the 3,082 examination centres in the state. A total of 5,61,979 students will appear for the exam, which will be held in a single shift, from 9 am to 11.30 am till March 2.
Earlier, the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), which conducts the examination, announced that students will be allowed an additional 15 minutes to enter the centre in case of emergencies. The entry time has been extended up to 9.30 am, from the earlier deadline of 9.15 am. “Examinees will be allowed to enter the examination centre up to 9.30 am, with a 15-minute grace period,” said BSE president Srikanta Tarai.
Special provisions have been made for differently-abled candidates, who will receive an extra 50 minutes to complete their papers. These students can utilise scribes provided by the examination centres or bring their own, provided they are from a lower class than the Class X.
