Nagpur Board Implements Stringent Security Measures Following Exam Malpractices
In response to two serious incidents of examination malpractice within the Nagpur division, the divisional board office has announced a comprehensive tightening of security protocols. The first incident involved an alleged paper leak at a Nagpur center during the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, while the second was a case of mass copying reported in Gadchiroli.
Live Location Tracking for Paper Runners
Divisional board chairman Shivling Patve has issued a directive requiring all runners—individuals responsible for delivering question papers to examination centers—to share their live location via smartphone throughout their assignment. This measure aims to provide real-time monitoring of their movements until their duties are completed.
Patve explained the rationale behind this decision: "The live location feature will enable the board to precisely track the time and route taken by each runner. Subsequently, this data will be analyzed to evaluate factors such as the duration of the journey, the number of stops made, and the length of any halts."
This approach leverages technology commonly available through applications like Google Maps, which, when configured appropriately, records a person's travel history with timestamps. The digitally stored information can later be scrutinized to reconstruct the runner's movements. While there are legal complexities—since the data technically tracks the device rather than definitively proving the runner's presence—the board mitigates this by having all runners' mobile numbers officially registered with authorities.
Enhanced CCTV Footage Preservation
In addition to location tracking, the board has mandated stricter protocols for CCTV footage from examination centers. Specifically, footage from the room where question paper bundles are handed over by runners to the center head must now be preserved in offline mode for future reference.
Currently, CCTV recordings are typically saved for 30 days post-exams on connected Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). However, due to limited DVR memory and loop recording settings, this crucial footage often gets overwritten. Patve emphasized the new requirement: "The footage must be stored on pen drives to ensure it remains accessible offline whenever needed for scrutiny."
Background on Paper Distribution and Recent Success
The process of transporting question papers from the board's secure custody—often referred to as a warehouse or safe house—to students has been detailed previously, highlighting vulnerabilities that these new measures aim to address.
Meanwhile, in a positive development, the English paper for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination conducted on Friday proceeded smoothly without any reported issues. Patve confirmed, "There were zero cases of copying or other malpractices." He noted that English and other language papers are generally perceived as easier by students due to the opportunity for more extensive writing.
These enhanced security protocols represent a proactive step by the Nagpur divisional board to safeguard the integrity of examinations and restore confidence in the assessment process following recent breaches.
