Maharashtra Board Sets Up District Vigilance Committees to Ensure Copy-Free Class 10, 12 Exams
Pune, 23rd January 2026: With the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled to begin next month, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has launched a statewide drive to ensure “copy-free” and fair examinations. As part of this drive, district-level vigilance committees have been formed under the chairmanship of district collectors to keep a strict watch on every examination centre.
This was announced by Maharashtra State Board Chairman Dr. Trigun Kulkarni at a press conference held at the Board’s office in Pune in the presence of the Education Commissioner.
Dr. Kulkarni said that the vigilance committee in each district will include the district collector, police commissioner or superintendent of police, chief executive officer, executive engineer of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company, principal of the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), and the primary and secondary education officers. The committee will be responsible for ensuring that examinations are conducted in a fair, transparent and malpractice-free environment.
He said that one day before the exams begin, the district vigilance committees will inspect all centres to ensure that basic infrastructure and facilities are in place. For major distribution centres, government vehicles will be arranged for the secure transportation of question papers and answer sheets.
At sensitive and trouble-prone centres, surveillance will be intensified using drone cameras. Video recording will also be carried out outside examination centres. In addition, flying squads and static squads comprising government officers and staff will be deployed at all centres. Each flying squad will include at least one woman member.
Dr. Kulkarni warned that if any malpractice is detected, strict action will be taken not only against the candidates but also against those who encourage, assist or are directly involved in unfair practices. Such cases will attract cognisable and non-bailable offences.
Exam Schedule and Student Numbers
For the Class 10 (SSC) examinations, around 16,14,987 students have registered. The exams will be held at 5,111 centres across the state from February 20 to March 18.
For the Class 12 (HSC) examinations, 15,32,862 students have registered. These exams will be conducted at 3,387 centres from February 10 to March 18.
Centres Closed After Last Year’s Malpractices
Dr. Kulkarni also said that examination centres where serious malpractices were reported last year have been shut down.
In the Class 12 exams, 76 centres across nine divisions were closed. These include: Pune – 12, Nagpur – 10, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – 28, Mumbai – 5, Amravati – 7, Nashik – 6 and Latur – 8.
In the Class 10 exams, 31 centres were closed due to irregularities. These include: Pune – 7, Nagpur – 6, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – 10, Mumbai – 1 and Latur – 7.
The Board has appealed to students, parents and school authorities to cooperate in maintaining the integrity of the examination process and ensuring a stress-free and fair environment for all candidates.
