Guwahati, Feb 5: With more than 760,000 students expected to take part in the HSLC and Higher Secondary (HS) Final Examinations in 2026, the Assam government, along with the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), has established a comprehensive security and supervision framework aimed at ensuring the examinations run smoothly and maintaining a strict stance against malpractice.

Examination supervision committees at both district and state levels have been activated to oversee every aspect of the examination process.

Surprise inspections will be conducted by flying squads led by executive magistrates, while district administrations have been granted the authority to enforce prohibitory orders around examination venues to deter unlawful gatherings and outside interference.

This year's HSLC exams are scheduled from February 10 to February 27, taking place at a record 1,046 centres, the highest in the Board's history.

Meanwhile, the HS final exams will occur from February 11 to March 16 across 821 centres, organized into 48 evaluation zones.

According to official statistics, 438,565 candidates are registered for the HSLC exams, while 330,744 will participate in the Higher Secondary final exams this year.

Out of the total HSLC examination centres, 194 have been classified as sensitive or highly sensitive following assessments by school inspectors.

Consequently, enhanced monitoring and surveillance measures have been implemented for these centres, as stated by Nayanjyoti Sarma, the Controller of Examination.

To prevent cheating, candidates will undergo mandatory frisking before entering examination halls. The use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited, and all devices belonging to invigilators and officials must be submitted to the centre in-charge, except for a few authorized personnel for emergency communications.

Examination centres will be staffed exclusively with trained invigilators from government and provincialized schools, ensuring that no private school teachers are involved in invigilation duties.

Subject teachers will not be assigned to invigilate on the days of their respective examinations to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

At the state level, the State Level Examination Supervision Committee will oversee district operations, focusing on the security of question papers and OMR sheets, including their storage and transportation from police stations and packet opening points.

Dedicated district control rooms will operate throughout the examination and evaluation periods, ensuring constant communication with the central control room.

Officials have indicated that the collaborative efforts of the education department, district administration, and police are aimed at ensuring that the HSLC and HS examinations are conducted in a peaceful, transparent manner, leaving no room for malpractice.