BSE Odisha strengthens security: QR codes, CCTV, and live streaming for exams

Bhubaneswar, Feb 6: With the annual matriculation examination in Odisha set to commence on February 21, the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has announced stringent measures to prevent question paper leaks and malpractice.

BSE President Srikant Tarai stated that a total of 5,10,778 students from across the state will be appearing for the examination this year. To accommodate them, 3,133 examination centres have been established across 30 districts, along with 314 nodal centres. In an effort to enhance monitoring, all exam centres will be under CCTV surveillance. Additionally, the board is expanding its live-streaming initiative, introduced last year, to 600 centres for improved oversight.

To maintain the confidentiality of the question papers, the Board has incorporated multiple security features, including QR codes, watermarks, and unique serial numbers. These measures will help ensure the integrity of the examination process. The distribution of question papers to examination centres is scheduled between February 12 and 19. Each question paper will have a unique serial number, allowing authorities to quickly trace the source in the event of a leak.

Further strengthening security, the Board has introduced a state-of-the-art digital locking system for transporting question papers. This system includes password-protected digital locks, GPS tracking, and a three-tiered access mechanism. The locks can be controlled centrally from the BSE office, accessed through secure passwords, or unlocked using specialized chips at designated centres. Any unauthorized attempt to tamper with the papers will trigger instant alerts at the BSE control room, ensuring real-time monitoring and immediate response.

To ensure a smooth and fair examination process, special squads will be deployed for surveillance. The exams will be conducted daily from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM in a single sitting, with a unified question paper for both regular and ex-regular students, streamlining the process for all candidates.