Bhubaneswar, 21 February (H.S.):The Matriculation exams for 2025 kicked off today across Odisha, with over 5.12 lakh students participating. A total of 5,12,437 candidates are appearing for the Class X examination, which is being held at 3,029 centers across the state's 30 districts. The exams will run until March 6.

On the first day, students are sitting for the First Language papers, which include subjects like Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, and English.

The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has implemented strict measures to ensure the exams are conducted smoothly and fairly. To enhance security, 314 nodal centers have been established, and all exam centers are equipped with CCTV surveillance. AI-enabled cameras have also been installed at both the exam venues and nodal centers for close monitoring.

In a bid to prevent malpractice, a four-tier squad has been deployed, and a control room at the BSE headquarters will oversee the proceedings through live streaming. Additionally, each question paper has a unique serial number for traceability in case of any leaks. The question papers were dispatched on February 12 and arrived at the exam centers by February 19.

The evaluation process is set to begin on March 19, with designated nodal centers in each district overseeing the process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda