Bhubaneswar: The annual High School Certificate (HSC) or Matric examination kicked off on Friday with as many as 5, 87, 720 students are appearing for the First language (MILO) in 2,953 centres across the State amid tight security.
The exam will conclude on March 8. Every examination will be conducted between 10 am and 12.30 pm. The students will be allotted extra 15 minutes for Mathematics.
The Board of Secondary Education (BSE), which conducts the examination, has banned mobile phones in examination centres in a bid to avoid question paper leak in social media. CCTVs have also been installed in sensitive centres. Prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC has clamped around various sensitive centre to avoid any untoward incidents during the examination.
Question papers reached at the examination centres by 8.30 am amid tight security arrangements. At least 304 nodal centres have been set up to keep the question papers. At least 693 dispatch teams have been formed to take the question papers to the centres on the day of the examinations.
As many as 58 flying squads, 44 special squads and six zonal squads have been formed to keep a vigil on examination process. Besides, the State Government has engaged a special officer to keep a close eye on question paper leak in social media.
