Imphal: With a renewed hope for the future in violence-hit Manipur, 31,530 students appeared for the Higher Secondary Examination 2026 (Class XII) conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) across 117 centres on Tuesday.The examinations will continue until March 20. Of the total candidates, 23,146 are from the science stream, 7,697 from arts, and 687 from commerce. Among the centres, 39 are located in hill districts and 78 in valley districts.
As many as 412 internally displaced students are also appearing for the exam. The overall candidate pool includes 15,908 male and 15,622 female students.Controller of examinations Oinam Joy said 64 flying squads have been deployed across the state to ensure smooth and fair conduct. Special nodal officers have also been assigned for hill districts to closely monitor the process and maintain transparency and discipline, he added.COHSEM chairpersonTakhellambam Ojit Singh described the exam as a crucial turning point in shaping students’ futures. He appealed to parents, civil society organisations, and student bodies to cooperate for the fair conduct of the examinations, urging the public to avoid bandhs, blockades, strikes, or gatherings near exam centres during the period.Meanwhile, the exam was disrupted on the first day at the Wabagai Higher Secondary Examination Centre in Kakching district, where candidates protested the alleged denial of additional time. In the protest, some reportedly snatched answer papers from invigilators and tore them, triggering tension at the centre.Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the incident at the time of filing this report.
