Board exams centres saw a huge rush outside the colleges as the HSC exams started today across Maharashtra

(In Pic: Students and parents outside Patuck Technical Junior College at Santacruz East which is a sensitive centres as per HSC board list. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav)

Visuals show parents dropping off their students at their respective centres as the students do their last revision before entering the exam hall.

(In Pic: Students revising for the exams outside Aisha English School and Junior College, Shivaji Nagar Govandi. Pic/Sameer Abedi)

The Std XII (HSC) exams will be held from February 11 to March 18, while the Std X (SSC) exams are scheduled from February 21 to March 28

(In Pic: Students checking exam hall details outside Aisha English School and Junior College, Shivaji Nagar Govandi. Pic/Sameer Abedi)

The state government and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) have ramped up security measures to ensure a completely copying-free examination process

(In Pic: Student rush outside Aisha English School and Junior College, Shivaji Nagar Govandi ahead of board exams. Pic/Sameer Abedi)

The board is implementing several strict protocols to prevent malpractices and uphold the integrity of the exams, scheduled between February and March

(In Pic: Students wait outside Madhyamik Vidyalaya in Vikhroli East. Pic/Sameer Surve)

Sensitive exam centres will be under drone surveillance, and video monitoring will be conducted outside examination venues to ensure compliance with strict guidelines

(In Pic: Students and parents outside Patuck Technical Junior College at Santacruz East which is a sensitive centres as per HSC board list. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav)

Authorities have also decided to deploy mobile and static squads at examination centres

(In Pic: Students wait outside Aisha English School and Junior College, Shivaji Nagar Govandi. Pic/Sameer Abedi)

Officers and employees from various government departments will be assigned specific responsibilities to maintain a fair and disciplined examination environment

(In Pic: Students and parents outside Patuck Technical Junior College at Santacruz East which is a sensitive centres as per HSC board list. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav)

The Mumbai Police have issued stringent orders to prevent any form of cheating during the exams, particularly concerning electronic devices.

(In Pic: students sitting in the garden reading notes before the exams opposite the Patuck Technical Junior College at Santacruz East which is a sensitive centres as per HSC board list. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav)

The use of mobile phones, laptops, Bluetooth devices and the internet is strictly prohibited inside and near examination centres

(In Pic: Students wait outside Asmita College in Kannamwar Nagar, Vikhroli East ahead of board exams. Pic/Sameer Surve)

Public telephone booths, fax machines and photocopy shops within a 500-metre radius of centres will also remain closed before and during the examination period

(In Pic: HSC students wait outside Mithibai college before the examination. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav)

These individuals will be required to carry official identification cards issued specifically for the exams

(In Pic: Parents wait outside Swami vivekanand high school and  junior college in Chembur as the students write their board exam. Pic/ Sameer Abedi)