A student arrives late for the exam at Ruia College. Six such students were allowed last minute entry. Pics/Ashish Raje

After its exams were marred by several cases of question paper leaks in the past two years, the Mumbai division of the Maharashtra State Board has decided to be very strict regarding mobile phones in the Higher Secondary Examination which began yesterday. Not only are students being asked to switch off their mobile phones and to keep them in their bags outside the exam hall, the phones of students who reach late are being thoroughly checked by invigilators for a hint of paper leak, before they too are asked to switch them off.