Cuttack, Feb 19: The Matriculation examination in Odisha will begin today, with over 5.6 lakh students registered to sit for the exams. Along with the Matric exam, the State Open School Certificate (SOSC) and Sanskrit Medium exams will also be held simultaneously.
The Odisha Board has implemented robust measures to ensure the smooth conduct of exams and prevent any unfair practices. The entire examination process is under close scrutiny to maintain transparency and fairness.
The exams will take place across 3,082 centers statewide, starting at 9:00 am and concluding by 11:30 am. The first day of the exams will feature the First Language papers, covering subjects such as Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, and Telugu. Students must arrive at the exam centers by 7:30 am for entry checks. Latecomers will not be permitted into the halls by this time. Question papers will be distributed securely under strict supervision.
New guidelines and security measures:
Mobile phones banned: Mobile phones are strictly prohibited inside the exam halls for both invigilators and staff. Any examiner found with a mobile phone will face disciplinary action.
CCTV surveillance: All exam centers are under CCTV surveillance to ensure the exams are conducted fairly. A command control room has been set up to monitor the entire process.
Arrangements for differently-abled students: Special provisions have been made for differently-abled candidates, granting them an additional 50 minutes per exam. Students needing assistance with writing will have a helper provided.
Cheating prevention squads: To combat malpractice, 37 special squads have been formed, and 72 district-level squads will monitor the exam centers.
A total of 12,414 candidates will take the State Open School Certificate (SOSC) exam, while 2,748 students will sit for the Sanskrit Medium exam. The Matric exam will run until March 2, with the following schedule:
Second Language (English): February 21
Sanskrit/Hindi: February 23
General Science: February 25
Social Science: February 27
Mathematics: March 2
