Bhubaneswar: The question papers for the annual Matric examination conducted Board of Secondary Education (BSE) reached the nodal centre in Lamtaput block of Maoist-hit Koraput district amid tight security arrangements on Thursday.
The question papers and other confidential documents have been kept at the Lamtaput police station, which has been converted into a nodal centre.
As many as 302 nodal centres have been identified for safe storage of question papers and other confidential documents, BSE officials informed.
Meanwhile, Odisha government has instructed senior BSE and district administration officials to maintain strict vigil to put a check on incidents of malpractice during the matriculation examination starting from February 23. The exam will continue till March 8.
Chief Secretary AP Padhi today reviewed the arrangements made by the BSE at a meeting held at State Secretariat.
Instructions were issued to Collectors and SPs of various districts through video conference about the measures that needs to be followed to check malpractice incidents.
Around 5,90,330 students, including 5,67,254 regular students will appear the examination in 2,818 centres across the State.
This year, the School and Mass Education Department has made certain changes in the examination pattern this year stop malpractice. Students will have to appear the exam at centres (other schools) instead of their respective schools.
BSE President Jahan Ara Begum informed that a three-tier system will be put in place for this year's matriculation examination to curb malpractices.
A total of 37 central squads under BSE have been constituted besides 58 other squads that will monitor conduct of the examination under the supervision of district education officers.