Maharashtra state board cancelled recognition of 107 exam centres

Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Examination (MSBSHSE) has cancelled recognition of as many as 107 exams centres, where cases of copying and instances of other malpractices were found during last year’s board exams.

With 28 of these exams centres located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division – covering districts like Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajingar – has emerged as the most affected region.

Out of these 107 exam centres with cancelled recognition, 31 are from Secondary Certificate Examination (SSC) which is Class 10 and 76 are Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Class 12 examination centres. While most exam centres, SSC and HSC combined are from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division; Pune, Nagpur and Latur divisions follow with 19, 17 and 15 exam centres being cancelled. Divisions such as Mumbai, Amravati and Nashik also have six such centres. However, none of the exam centres from Kolhapur and Konkan divisions have been cancelled.

Stating that the action is taken following the notifications issued in this regard last year under the copy-free exam campaign Chairman of MSBSHSE, Dr. Trigun Kulkarni emphasized that this has not had any impact on the exam centre arrangements for board exams.

“There are more than enough exam centres available for HSC and HSC examinations to ensure adequate arrangements. All exam-centres were notified last year that if copy-case are detected during board exams, their recognition to function as exam centre will be cancelled,” he said further adding that the copy-free exam campaign is to continue for the upcoming board exams and a state-level vigilance committee has already been formed to ensure its effective implementation.

Despite strict anti-copying measures, a total of 445 cheating cases were recorded during last year’s Maharashtra State Board exams. And with 245 cases from the total – more than 55 percent – were reported from the Chhatrapati Smabhajinagar division.

For board exams 2026, HSC written exam will be held from February 10 to March 18, 2026. Whereas SSC written exams are scheduled from February 20 to March 18, 2026. Launched in the year 2023, the copy-free exam campaign by the Maharashtra State Board is being strengthened every year with newer initiatives.

Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her... Read More