Maharashtra HSC exams begin today; Photocopy shops near centres to remain closed

As the Std XII HSC and Std X SSC board exams are here the Maharashtra government and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education MSBSHSE have ramped up security measures to ensure a completely copyingfree examination process The board is implementing several strict protocols to prevent malpractices and uphold the integrity of the exams scheduled between February and MarchThe Std XII HSC exams will be held from February 11 to March 18 while the Std X SSC exams are scheduled from February 21 to March 28HSC students pore over study material outside Mithibai college ahead of the examination on February 21 2024 File picAnurag AhireTightened securityIn a bid to curb any form of cheating all photocopy shops within a 500metre radius of examination centres will remain closed on exam days Sensitive exam centres will be under drone surveillance and video monitoring will be conducted outside examination venues to ensure compliance with strict guidelines Additionally the district administration has been instructed to ensure that all necessary facilities at exam centres are in place at least a day before the examsAuthorities have also decided to deploy mobile and static squads at examination centres Officers and employees from various government departments will be assigned specific responsibilities to maintain a fair and disciplined examination environmentThe stringent security arrangements reflect the seriousness of the issue and aim to provide students with an environment free from any form of malpractice With these measures in place we are hopeful that this yearrsquos SSC and HSC board exams will be conducted in a completely fair and copyfree manner Besides this the boardrsquos focus will also remain on assisting students at every step and ensuring a smooth examination process said Rajendra Ahire chairman of the Mumbai Divisional board of MSBSHSEHighrisk centresCentres that reported incidents of copying between 2018 and 2024 will see a complete overhaul in personnel staff assigned on duty These centres will be staffed with new centre heads and supervisors to prevent any recurrence of malpracticePolice restrictionsThe Mumbai Police have issued stringent orders to prevent any form of cheating during the Maharashtra HSC exam particularly concerning electronic devices The use of mobile phones laptops Bluetooth devices and the internet is strictly prohibited inside and near examination centres Public telephone booths fax machines and photocopy shops within a 500metre radius of centres will also remain closed before and during the examination period Furthermore security at examination centres will be as stringent as that at polling stations The police have warned that any violations of these orders will be punishable under Section 223 of the Indian Penal CodeSatyanarayan Chaudhary joint commissioner of police law and order said ldquoNecessary actions are taken as per the requirements and information shared by the state board of education you should talk to the education board for more informationrdquoFacial recognition for exam staffTo further ensure the integrity of the Maharashtra HSC exam the Maharashtra government has introduced facial recognition verification for centre heads supervisors and all personnel involved in the exam process These individuals will be required to carry official identification cards issued specifically for the examsMarch 18Last day of the HSC examsCounselling support team Shrikant Shingare 9869634765 Muralidhar More 7977919850 9322105618 Hayalij V K 9423947266 Anil Kumar Gadhe 9969038020 Vikas Jadhav 9867874623 Vinod Panhalkar 9527587789 Sanjay Jadhav 9422594844 9657079344 Chandrakant Mundhe 8169699204 Ashok Sarode 9322527076 8888830139 Shailaja Mulye 9820646115 Sheikh Akhlakh Ahmed A Razzak 9967329370 Sneha Chavan 8369015013 Ujwala Zare 9920125827Guidelines for students and staff during exams Photocopy shops within 500 metres of the exam centre will remain closed Section 144 CrPc will be enforced prohibiting gatherings of four or more people Only examinees teachers officials and authorised staff can enter within 100 metres Unauthorized individuals and vehicles are strictly prohibited No gathering of two or more persons near the exam centre Mobile phones wireless devices laptops and other communication gadgets are banned Loudspeakers are not allowed within a 100metre radiusStress helplineTo help such students deal with exam stress the state board has appointed counsellors to provide online counsellingTheir mobile numbers are as follows9011302997 8263876896 9960644411 7208775115 8767753069 8169202214 7387400970 9834084593 8329230022 9552982115Board helplinesFor any examinationrelated inquiries02227893756 02227881075Appointed OfficialsAssistant Superintendent amp Assistant Secretary Kalpana Pawar 9423476023Assistant Superintendent Charushila Adhav 9890261046