Over 5.6 Lakh Students Appear as Odisha HSC Exams Begin

Bhubaneswar: The Annual High School Certificate (HSC) Examination 2026 began across Odisha on Wednesday, with over 5.6 lakh students appearing under elaborate administrative and security arrangements to ensure a smooth, fair and transparent conduct. Organised by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, the examination will continue till March 2.

On the first day, School & Mass Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr N Thirumala Naik visited several examination centres in Bhubaneswar to assess on-ground arrangements. He reviewed seating plans, security protocols, question paper distribution systems and other logistical facilities, besides interacting with teachers, centre superintendents, invigilators and district officials. Stressing the need for strict adherence to examination guidelines, he directed officials to maintain close coordination to avoid any lapses.

Expressing satisfaction over the preparedness, Dr Naik reaffirmed the department’s commitment to conducting the examinations peacefully, efficiently and without any malpractice. He later visited the BSE Command Control Room to take stock of real-time monitoring mechanisms and the overall management of the examination process across the state. The surveillance and coordination systems in place were also reviewed to ensure incident-free conduct.

This year, a total of 5,46,875 students are appearing for the Annual HSC Examination. Including candidates from the State Open School Certificate (SOSC) and Madhyama examinations, the overall number of examinees stands at 5,61,979. To facilitate the smooth conduct of the examinations, 332 nodal centres and 3,082 examination centres have been set up across all districts.

For stringent monitoring and to curb malpractice, 72 district-level flying squads and 37 BSE flying squads have been deployed. Additionally, one observer has been appointed at each examination centre to oversee proceedings and ensure strict compliance with established guidelines.