Odisha Class 10 boards begin under AI surveillance as 5.61 lakh students face high-stakes test

The Odisha Class 10 board examination began today, January 19, 2026 with over 5.61 lakh students appearing across the state. The exams are being conducted by the Board of Secondary Education and will continue till March 2.

The High School Certificate (HSC), Madhyama and Open School Certificate examinations started at 9 am and ended at 11.30 am on the first day. Students appeared for the Modern Indian Language (Odia) paper.

3,082 centres, strict monitoring

The examinations are being held at 3,082 centres under tight security arrangements. Authorities have made it clear that there will be no compromise on discipline.

Students were allowed to carry only admit cards, pens, pencils and geometry boxes. No other items were permitted inside the centres.

Invigilators and teachers deployed for duty have also been barred from using mobile phones during the examination hours. Officials said the rule has been enforced strictly.

AI surveillance and surprise checks

To prevent malpractice, the board has introduced a three-tier squad system. Special vigilance teams are making surprise visits to centres. Examination halls are under AI-enabled CCTV surveillance. Monitoring is being carried out from a central control room set up at the BSE office in Cuttack.

As an additional security measure, QR codes and watermarks have been added to question papers to prevent leaks and tampering. Officials said all arrangements are in place to ensure smooth and fair conduct of the examinations.

Chief Minister’s message

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wished the students success. In a post on X, he said the examination is not only an academic test but also a measure of patience, perseverance and self-confidence.

He advised students not to allow pressure to affect them and asked them to remain calm and confident. With strict monitoring, layered security and AI surveillance in place, the Odisha Class 10 board examinations have begun on a firm note. The focus is clear, discipline, transparency and fairness.
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