Pune: With the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) written board examinations for Std XII students set to begin on Feb 10, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) will now replace staff at sensitive exam centres to ensure a malpractice-free session. The decision was communicated during a review meeting of divisional directors, block education officers, panchayat samiti officials, exam centre heads and supervisory staff, held online last week by the state board. Officials said the objective was to prevent copying and other irregularities at centres with a past record of malpractice, or those identified as sensitive. Over 15 lakh students from nine divisions — Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravati, Kolhapur, Konkan and Nashik — will appear for the upcoming exams. The latest move is part of a wider statewide crackdown on exam malpractice, with the board reiterating a zero-tolerance policy ahead of both the HSC exams and the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams for Std X students this year. Slew of measures Board chairman Trigun Kulkarni said centres where mass copying was detected during last year’s board exams were dropped from the list of venues for the 2026 session. “Any centre found indulging in malpractice last year is barred from hosting board exams this year. This policy will continue in future cycles as well. We will not compromise on the integrity of the examination process,” Kulkarni said at a recent press conference towards the end of Jan. During the Feb–March 2025 exams, flying squads had detected mass copying at 76 HSC centres and 31 SSC centres across the state. All these centres were cancelled for the current exam cycle. Officials said any centre found facilitating unfair means this year will face immediate cancellation in subsequent years. In addition to replacing staff at sensitive and highly sensitive centres, the board put in place a multi-layered monitoring mechanism. Mandatory CCTV coverage was ordered in exam halls and all rooms connected with the examination process. The footage will be securely stored, with access available to district vigilance committees and oversight by the state-level vigilance committee. “To ensure copy-free exams, we strengthened monitoring at every level. CCTV surveillance is compulsory at sensitive centres, and there will be continuous oversight by vigilance committees,” Kulkarni reiterated. “This is about creating a fair environment for honest students.” The board also recently approved the deployment of drone surveillance at sensitive centres and video recording outside examination premises to deter organised copying attempts. Flying squads and static squads comprising govt officers from various departments will be stationed across centres. Each flying squad will include at least one woman officer, officials said. Security around question papers and answer sheets has been tightened, too. Govt vehicles will be requisitioned wherever required for the transport of confidential material, with police personnel or home guards accompanying each consignment. Photocopy centres within a 500m radius of centres will remain closed during exam hours. Education commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh said the measures were aimed at protecting the interests of sincere students and restoring public confidence in the board exam system. “Cancelling centres involved in malpractice sends a clear message. Our priority is fairness, credibility and a stress-free environment for students appearing for these crucial examinations,” he said. Officials also warned that strict action will be taken under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982. Those involved in copying, abetment or facilitation of malpractice — including officials or staff who deliberately ignore violations — will face cognisable and non-bailable offences. With heightened vigilance, staff reshuffles at sensitive centres and enhanced surveillance, the state board said it was committed to conducting the 2026 HSC and SSC examinations in a transparent and malpractice-free manner across Maharashtra.
