Mass Copying During Maharashtra Board Exams: 81 Staff Members Suspended
Pune, 9th March 2026: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has registered cases against 81 staff members and suspended them after CCTV footage allegedly revealed instances of mass copying during the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations in several districts of the state.
The action comes amid the state government’s “copy-free examination campaign” launched by the School Education Department. Despite the initiative, several incidents of copying were reported, particularly during the Class 12 examinations.
In Beed district, mass copying was reported at an examination centre in Chousala. Following the incident, 17 staff members were suspended.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, a case of mass copying was detected in Kannad taluka. CCTV footage reportedly showed the direct and indirect involvement of supervisors and the centre director. Police cases were registered against 24 individuals, of whom 21 have been suspended.
In Jalna district, five teachers serving as supervisors were suspended in Mantha taluka after copying was reported during the English examination.
At Jamudafata, 581 students allegedly engaged in mass copying during the Physics examination. Authorities suspended 28 staff members from six schools run by three different institutions in connection with the incident.
In Gadchiroli district, micro notes and printouts allegedly generated using ChatGPT were recovered during the Political Science examination. Three teachers and a peon were suspended in connection with the case.
In Tuljapur, nine students were caught copying during the Chemistry examination, with some found carrying mobile phones. Three teachers were suspended following the incident.
Additionally, in Beed district, a headmaster was suspended after alleged irregularities at an examination centre caused inconvenience to students.
Officials said strict action will continue against those found violating examination rules as part of efforts to curb malpractice during board examinations.
