Girls outnumber boys as Matric exams to begin in Bihar on Feb 17

Patna: In a development reflecting women’s empowerment in Bihar, the number of girl students appearing in the 2026 Matriculation examinations has, for the first time, surpassed that of boys. More than 15 lakh students will take the examination, including 7.85 lakh girls and 7.26 lakh boys, marking a shift in enrolment trends.

The examinations, conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), will begin on Feb 17 and conclude on Feb 25. They will be held in two sittings across 1,699 examination centres in the state under stringent security arrangements. In Patna district alone, 71,022 candidates will appear at 70 centres.


BSEB chairman Anand Kishor said that all district magistrates, superintendents of police and district education officers have been instructed to conduct the examinations in a peaceful, fair and transparent manner. District magistrates and superintendents of police will remain on constant patrol, moving from one centre to another to ensure that no unauthorised person enters the premises and that examination protocols are strictly followed.

The examinations will be conducted in two shifts — the first shift from 9.30am and the second shift from 2pm. Examinees must enter the examination hall at least 30 minutes before the commencement of the examination in both shifts to allow time for verification and frisking.

The BSEB has issued a Unique ID to every examinee to facilitate special identification and prevent impersonation. A WhatsApp group will be formed linking all district magistrates, superintendents of police and BSEB officials to enable the swift dissemination of important information and prompt resolution of any issues. A dedicated control room will operate round the clock from 6am on Feb 16 to pm on Feb 25 to monitor developments and coordinate responses.

The chairman said prohibitory orders would be enforced within a 200-metre radius of each examination centre. Magistrates, along with police personnel, will be deployed at all centres. No student will be permitted to enter the examination hall after the commencement of the examination. Each examinee will undergo thorough frisking at two stages — first at the entrance gate by police and magistrates, and again at the examination hall entrance by invigilators. There will be one invigilator for every 25 examinees. Except for the centre superintendent, no invigilator, examinee or other personnel will be allowed to carry a cellphone inside the examination hall, the chairman added.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !