Prayagraj: Authorities of UP Board in Prayagraj have finalised a comprehensive digital policy for determining examination centres for the 2026 high school and intermediate board examinations. The revised proposal, approved by the state govt, aims to maintain sanctity, transparency, and credibility of examinations while completely eradicating malpractices like mass cheating.Under the new system, exam centres will be decided through a computerized process based on verified infrastructural and geographical data of schools. Each institution must update and authenticate its basic details on the official portal upmsp.edu.in, including information on classrooms, strong rooms, CCTV arrangements, internet connectivity, and security measures.A tehsil-level verification committee, headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and including engineers, tehsildars, and officials authorised by the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), will physically verify uploaded data. Random checks by regional offices will further ensure compliance.Every potential exam centre must have two-way voice recorder-equipped CCTV cameras in classrooms, strong rooms, and entry gates, with a minimum 30-day recording capacity, Indian-made DVRs, high-speed internet, and a secure strong room separate from the principal’s office. Schools must also have double-lock steel cupboards for question papers, boundary walls, fire safety equipment, electricity with generator or inverter backup, clean drinking water, and separate toilets for boys and girls.The geo-location of schools will be verified using a mobile app, automatically uploading photos, latitude-longitude data, and verification details to the UPMSP server. Wrong or misleading data will invite action under the Uttar Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.Exam centres will be allotted on merit-based priority — first to govt schools, then aided, and finally to self-financed institutions. The allocation will consider school capacity, infrastructure, and proximity. No single manager schools will host their own students to prevent bias. Girl students and those with 40% or more disabilities will be allowed to appear at their own or nearby centres within a 7–15 km radius.Schools found involved in past mass copying incidents (2023–2025) or uploading false information will be excluded. Each centre will host 250–2,200 students per day.
