Maharashtra SSC Exams 2025-26: Over 1.6 Million Students to Appear Amid Enhanced Security Measures
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is gearing up for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, scheduled to run from February 20 to March 18, 2025. A staggering 1,615,489 students have registered for the Std X exams, which will be conducted across 5,111 examination centres throughout the state.
Registration Breakdown and Increased Participation
According to the latest data released by the board, the total number of registrations includes 8,65,740 boys, 7,49,736 girls, and 13 transgender students. These students hail from 23,683 schools across Maharashtra. Notably, there has been a significant increase in participation, with 3,879 more students registering compared to the previous academic year.
In the Pune division alone, 2,78,145 students are set to appear for the exams. This includes 1,50,279 boys, 1,27,865 girls, and 1 transgender student from 3,665 schools. The division will utilize 684 examination centres to accommodate the large number of candidates.
Enhanced Surveillance and Anti-Cheating Measures
In a bid to curb malpractices, the board has implemented stringent security protocols. Nandkumar Bedse, the acting chairman of MSBSHSE, announced that all but 544 examination centres will be under continuous CCTV camera surveillance. "We identified 191 sensitive centres, of which 42 lacked CCTV coverage. To prevent malpractice at these centres, we replaced the invigilating staff with teachers from other schools," Bedse explained.
Furthermore, the board has cancelled 31 exam centres from last year due to previous irregularities. Students are required to report to their exam centres 30 minutes before the paper. The exams will be held in two sessions: the first from 10:30 AM onwards and the second from 2:30 PM onwards. All students will be granted an additional 10 minutes for each exam.
Crackdown on Malpractices and Legal Actions
The board is taking a hard stance against cheating, with Bedse emphasizing that "all measures are being taken to curb cheating and ensure a fair exam." This includes deploying sitting squads and flying squads to monitor exam centres. Any individual found indulging in cheating or assisting students will face strict action under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act of 1982.
Last year, the board detected 93 individual copying cases during the SSC exams and confirmed 226 other malpractice cases throughout the examination and evaluation process. To address such issues proactively, the board has appointed 10 counsellors to provide support to students. Their contact numbers are available for those in need of assistance.
HSC Exam Malpractices and Teacher Suspensions
In a related development, the board has suspended 39 teachers across Maharashtra for their alleged involvement in malpractices during the ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams for Std XII students, which commenced on February 10. "These include 21 in Kannad taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, 12 in Chousala village of Beed, and six in Jalna district," Bedse informed.
A particularly severe incident of mass copying occurred in Washim, where 27 teachers were implicated. An FIR has been lodged, and suspension proceedings are underway. The board is also investigating why CCTV cameras at an exam centre in Basmath, Hingoli, were non-functional temporarily, despite no electricity issues in the area. The centre head has been suspended, and a committee is probing the matter.
Suspensions for teachers can range from three months to a year, depending on the severity of the malpractice. Regarding student accountability, Bedse stated that committees are formed by respective divisions to evaluate answer sheets individually and identify those involved in mass copying before taking action. So far, 109 individual cases of cheating by students (excluding mass copying) have been detected during the ongoing HSC exams.
Exploring Digital Evaluation and Future Plans
Looking ahead, the board is studying the digital evaluation system adopted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Bedse clarified that this system will not be implemented for the upcoming SSC exams, as evaluation will proceed conventionally. However, he acknowledged the need for technological adaptation, stating, "The state board also needs to change with time, and technology is changing daily. But we need to look at the economics of the move before any decision."
The board will assess state-specific challenges before deciding whether to adopt digital evaluation, either fully or partially, in the near future. This cautious approach aims to balance innovation with practical considerations, ensuring a smooth transition if implemented.
