2 min readMumbaiMar 12, 2026 12:48 AM IST
IN ONE of the major crackdowns on exam malpractice, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has suspended 81 teaching and non-teaching staff members so far for their alleged involvement in irregularities during board examinations.
The board has also registered nine police cases linked to malpractice during the ongoing exams.
Officials said stricter monitoring measures this year have led to a drop in copying incidents. During the Higher Secondary Certificate examination, which concluded its major papers on Wednesday, the board recorded 237 cases of copying and other malpractices, compared with 353 cases last year.
According to the board, the decline is largely due to stronger anti-copying measures including the introduction of CCTV surveillance at exam centres.
Acting chairperson of the state board, Nandkumar Bedse, said strict disciplinary action had been taken against staff involved in conducting board exams.
“This may be the first time such strict disciplinary action has been taken against teaching and non-teaching staff involved in conducting Maharashtra State Board exams. This has been possible largely due to CCTV surveillance and strict vigilance by local authorities to ensure copy-free exams,” Bedse said.
He said CCTV cameras installed at most exam centres have enabled vigilance squads to verify suspicious activities and gather evidence before taking action.
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“With almost every exam centre covered under CCTV surveillance, officers of vigilance squads are able to verify doubts through footage,” he said.
Bedse added that increased awareness about the board’s copy-free campaign has also made invigilators, schools functioning as exam centres and local education officers more vigilant in identifying malpractices.
Of the 81 suspensions so far, the highest number of 28 were reported from Washim district, followed by 21 from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and 18 from Beed.
Among the 237 copying cases recorded in the HSC examination, the highest 59 were reported from the Amravati division.
Pune division reported 47 cases, while Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division recorded 46.
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While most HSC papers are over, a few technical papers are still pending. The Secondary School Certificate examination is currently underway, with 49 copying cases reported so far compared to 92 last year. Three SSC papers are yet to be held, Bedse said.
