CBSE exams to start under strict vigilance

After HSC paper leaks, the central board implements strong security measures to prevent cheating at exam centres

The HSC paper leaks have prompted the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to beef up security for Class 10 and 12 exams, which begin on Thursday. Full-time invigilators will be appointed at exam centres. Centres have been instructed to open the sealed envelope of question papers in front of at least four assistant superintendents.

Around 16 lakh students are will appear for the Class 10 board-based and school-based exams across India including 1.78 lakh from the Chennai region (Maharashtra and several other south Indian regions fall under this division). For Class 12, 10.9 lakh students will take the exams, including 59, 014 from this region.

Security has been stepped up after five Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) papers leaked in Mumbai.

For the first time, independent observers will oversee the board exams, they will take rounds of centres that have a history of cheating.

This kind of scrutiny is normally carried out for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering aspirants.

“The HSC paper leaks continue to worry us all. We are

being extra careful this year and taking precautions so that such instances don’t occur during exams,” said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri, which is one of the CBSE exam centres.

The board has asked the centres to open the sealed question

paper packets in the presence of at least four assistant superintendents — one of them will be from the school, said Srivastava.

“Till last year, there was only one assistant superintendent, often our teachers would chip in free of cost. But this year the board has given us money to

appoint more assistants,” said Srivastava.

She added that as an added measure, her centre had prohibited parents and vehicles from entering the campus.

Centre superintendents have been asked to approach the police to ensure that adequate

security is available, states a preexam press note issued by the CBSE on Wednesday.

“Arrangements with state authorities and the local police have been made to ensure trouble-free exams throughout the country,” stated Rama Sharma, public relations officer, CBSE.