New Delhi, Feb 24 (NationPress) The UP Board exams have officially started on Monday, accompanied by heightened security and supervision throughout the state. A total of 54,37,233 students are taking part in these examinations, which are being held across 8,140 centres in Uttar Pradesh.

Of these, 27,32,216 are high school students, while 27,05,017 are intermediate students.

In response to increased security measures, centres in 17 districts are under special monitoring. Agencies such as the Special Task Force (STF) and the Intelligence Unit have been assigned to oversee the examination process.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya conveyed their best wishes to the students.

CM Yogi stated in a post on X, “Hearty congratulations to all students appearing in the UP Board 10th and 12th class exams! Participate in this examination festival with confidence, patience, and full potential. Treat the exam as a part of your daily routine. May Maa Saraswati bless you, and may you all succeed; best wishes!”

In a unique and festive gesture, students at Bal Nikunj Inter College in Lucknow were welcomed with an aarti and a shower of flowers before the exams commenced.

For this examination period, 576 government-run centres, 3,446 aided institutions, and 4,118 self-financed centres have been established. STF and LIU teams will be monitoring the exams continuously. To ensure transparency and prevent cheating, each examination room is equipped with two CCTV cameras, voice recorders, routers, DVRs, and high-speed Internet for live webcasting.

Additionally, special security features have been integrated into the question papers and answer sheets, including centre-specific coding.

Notably, the UP Board exams planned for February 24 in Prayagraj have been postponed due to the expected large crowds for the Mahashivaratri bath at the Maha Kumbh.

To uphold the integrity of the examination, a dedicated task force comprising 8,140 centre administrators, 8,140 external administrators, 8,140 static magistrates, 1,283 sector magistrates, and 439 zonal magistrates has been deployed. Additionally, 428 mobile teams and 75 state-level supervisors will be overseeing the situation.

For greater transparency, the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 has been enacted, ensuring strict action against any attempts to disrupt the examination process.

Moreover, backup question papers are securely stored in strong rooms to address any unexpected situations. Stringent measures are also in place to prevent the exchange of answer sheets during the exams.

To assist students and parents facing any difficulties, the state has established toll-free helplines at 18001806607 and 18001806608.