The Higher Secondary Board (HSC) or Class 12 exams of the Maharashtra State Board will begin on February 10, with 15,32,487 candidates registered across the state. As many as 248 examination centres, where malpractices or other issues were reported in the last five years, have been declared sensitive.
Of the total candidates, 7,99,773 are from science, 3,80,692 from arts, 3,20,152 from commerce, 27,378 from vocational stream and 4,492 from Industrial Training Institutes (ITI).
The gender ratio remains skewed with 8,20,229 male candidates, 7,12,240 female candidates and 18 transgender candidates registered for the exams.
The exams will be held in 10,664 colleges and students will appear in 3,387 major centres. “95 per cent of these centers are equipped with CCTV cameras,” said Nandkumar Bedse, temporary chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE).
Copy free initiative
As part of the annual copy-free initiative launched by the state government, staff have been moved from the 172 centers that do not have CCTV cameras. Besides, the board has declared 248 centers as sensitive.
A total of 271 flying squadrons have been designated across the state. Vigilance committees have also been constituted in each district under the chairmanship of the district collector, while special flying squadrons have been formed by the divisional boards. Board members and district-level government officials have been directed to make surprise visits to the examination centres.
Cases will be registered under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982 against those who abet, aid or abet malpractices as well as those directly involved in such acts at any examination centre.
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The state board has also clarified that photocopying centers will remain closed within a 500-metre radius of the examination centres, instead of the usual 100 metres.
Instructions for students
Candidates have been instructed to arrive at their examination centers at least half an hour before the scheduled start time. Students appearing for the morning session must be present in the examination hall before 10.30 am, while those appearing for the afternoon session must appear before 2.30 pm. According to current regulations, 10 additional minutes will be granted at the end of the stipulated exam time.
For mental health support, 10 counselors have been designated at the state board level, while two counselors have been designated at the divisional board level for each district, who will be available to students by phone.
The counselors’ telephone numbers are: 9960644411, 7972573742, 9834984583, 9359978315, 8169202214, 9371661255, 7208421381, 7701956068, 8421159528, 9404783996.