09 February,2026 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
With most centres completing the installation, the number of centres without CCTV cameras has now reduced to 11. Representational Pic
Days before the SSC and HSC board exams kick off in Maharashtra, as many as 11 centres until Monday remained without CCTV surveillance, officials said.
According to the Mumbai Divisional Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, the CCTV cameras have been made mandatory at all examination centres during the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations under the copy-free campaign.
The number of examination centres under the Mumbai board without CCTV cameras has come down from 58 to 11, said board secretary Jyotsna Shinde Pawar.
She said that at centres where CCTV cameras are not available, centre directors and all staff will be appointed from other schools and junior colleges to ensure fair conduct of examinations.
The Higher Secondary Certificate (Class 12) written examinations conducted by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education will be held from February 10 to March 18, 2026, while the Secondary School Certificate (Class 10) examinations will be conducted from February 20 to March 18, 2026.
During a press conference on February 5, the Mumbai Divisional Board had informed that 58 Class 12 examination centres lacked CCTV cameras. Following this, meetings were held with centre directors, supervisors, education officers and education inspectors, directing them to install CCTV cameras at all examination centres as part of the copy-free campaign.
With most centres completing the installation, the number of centres without CCTV cameras has now reduced to 11, the board said.
Earlier last week, Mid-Day reported that as many as 58 of the 670 Class 12 examination centres and 127 of the 1,004 Class 10 centres still lack CCTV surveillance in every classroom ahead of the board examinations, official sources said.
As part of its âcopy-free' examination drive, the Maharashtra State Board has directed all centres to install CCTV cameras not only across their premises but also inside every classroom for close monitoring during exams.
Examination centres that fail to comply with the directive have been instructed to make alternative arrangements, including the exchange of supervising teachers with other centres, to ensure impartial invigilation.
For Class 12 examinations, several centres in Mumbai's western suburbs have been unable to install CCTV cameras in all classrooms, while most schools in the eastern suburbs, Palghar and Raigad districts have complied with the norms, officials said.
They added that the number of non-compliant centres is expected to decline further, as several schools and colleges are still in the process of installing CCTV systems.
In the case of Class 10 examinations, centres in the western suburbs and South Mumbai are lagging behind in CCTV implementation.
A significant number of these are Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run schools, where the education officer has written to the state government seeking additional funds to meet the board's requirements.
