High school and intermediate board examinations conducted by the Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, Asia’s largest education board, began on Wednesday.
On the first day of the exams, state’s Minister of State for Secondary Education (Independent Charge) Gulab Devi inspected the Government Girls Inter College, Vikramaditya Marg (Jiyamau) examination center in Lucknow to review the arrangements. She reviewed security, surveillance, and exam conduct arrangements at the center and interacted with the students, encouraging them.
During the inspection, Minister Gulab Devi applied tilak and fed them sweets. She blessed them to take the exam with a calm mind, confidence, and full energy. She urged the candidates to achieve excellent results through their hard work and bring pride to their parents, teachers, and the state.
At the Government Girls Inter College, Jiyamau (Center Code 341874), 304 candidates for High School Hindi were registered in the first shift, and 352 candidates for Intermediate Hindi were registered in the second shift.
It is noteworthy that the High School and Intermediate Board examinations conducted by the Board of Secondary Education are being held across the state from February 18 to March 12, 2026. On the first day, the High School Hindi and Elementary Hindi examinations were held at 8,033 centers, with 2,754,376 candidates registered. In the second shift, the Intermediate Hindi and General Hindi examinations were held at 7,998 centers, with 2,499,370 candidates participating.
A total of 5,337,778 candidates are registered for the 2026 board examinations, including 2,761,696 high school students and 2,576,082 intermediate students. A total of 8,033 examination centers have been set up in the state, including 596 government schools, 3,453 aided schools, and 3,984 self-financed schools. Of these, 222 centers have been declared highly sensitive and 683 centers have been declared sensitive.
To monitor the examinations, arrangements have been made for live monitoring and webcasting of examination centers in all 75 districts from a state-level, high-tech control room in Lucknow. Each examination room is equipped with CCTV cameras with voice recorders, routers, DVRs, and high-speed internet, and the strong room is being monitored 24×7.
To ensure the integrity of the examination, 8,033 center administrators, 8,033 external center administrators, 427 zonal magistrates, 1,210 sector magistrates, 440 district mobile squads, and 69 divisional squads have been deployed. In addition, the Special Task Force (STF) and local intelligence units have been instructed to maintain special vigilance.
Reserve sets of question papers are sealed in a secure double-locked cupboard, and answer sheets have security features and four colors. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, provides for strict penalties for cheating or malpractice.
Toll-free helpline numbers 18001806607 and 18001806608 have been activated for prompt redressal of complaints. Facility for filing complaints via email and social media is also available.
Minister Gulab Devi stated that conducting a cheating-free, transparent, and fair examination is the government’s top priority, and that candidates should appear for the examination without stress and with confidence.