Bhubaneswar: The annual High School Certificate (HSC), Madhayama and State Open School Certificate (SOSC) examinations in Odisha will begin on Friday and continue till March 20. Altogether 5,41,247 students will appear for the exams in 3,218 centers across the state.
Briefing media here on Thursday, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Das said that question papers of the HSC examinations have been kept at 316 nodal centres and those will be taken to the centers everyday morning amid tight security.
Das said that special measures have been taken to check malpractices during the exams this year. “Keeping in view the heat wave, all the exams will be conducted from 8 to 10 am, while the examinees have been directed to reach their respective centres by 7.00 am,” he added.
A total of 57 central squads have been formed to check malpractice, while CCTVs have been installed at all the exam centres.
Meanwhile, Orissa Board of Secondary Education (BSE) president Ramashis Hazra said dispatch teams have been formed to take the question papers from the nodal centres escorted by police teams. “As per the instructions of the Chief Secretary, a district administration vehicle will also follow the team,” Hazra added.
The question papers will reach the exam centers precisely between 6.00 am and 7.00 am. Stringent Security arrangements have also been made for Madhayama and SOSC exams, which will be held simultaneously.
Students have been instructed to take only admit cards, black and blue pens, pencils and geometry boxes. All mobile phones carried by the students will be kept under lock and key during the exam period, said Hazra.
Around 74 squads, including 36 formed by the BSE, will supervise the smooth conduct of the matriculation examination this time.
