Paperless Exams Ahead? Maharashtra Board Signals Shift to Digital Mode
Pune, 4th May 2026: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has indicated a shift towards adopting digital technology in Class 10 and 12 examinations in the coming years, with a focus on reducing paper consumption.
Board Chairman Trigun Kulkarni said the move is necessary in view of the environmental impact of large-scale paper usage. Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh supported the initiative, highlighting the potential of digital tools in conducting examinations.
For the Class 12 examinations alone, over 10.92 crore pages were printed for question papers and model answer sheets, consuming around 223 metric tonnes of paper. In addition, more than 1.06 crore answer sheets were printed, requiring nearly 1,700 metric tonnes of paper.
“Since paper is derived from trees, it is essential to adopt digital methods for future examinations,” Kulkarni said. Singh cited the virtual laboratory system developed by C-DAC as an example, suggesting that practical examinations can be conducted digitally.
The board has already begun integrating technology. During this year’s Class 12 examinations, a pilot project was conducted in Baramati taluka under the Pune division, where “digital trunks” were used to securely deliver question papers to examination centres. Following its success, the board is considering expanding the system across the state.
New Certificates with Photo and Barcode
In another key reform, the board has decided to issue a single consolidated document combining the marksheet and certificate, replacing the current system of separate documents. The new certificates will include the student’s name as per Aadhaar records, along with a photograph and a barcode.
Kulkarni said the new system is expected to help the board save approximately ₹3 crore. The certificates are likely to be made available within 15 days of the declaration of results.
