Nagpur: All state board examination centres in the Nagpur division have been asked to preserve CCTV footage for 30 days after the conclusion of the exams. Divisional board chairman Shivling Patve said the footage will act as documentary evidence in cases where malpractice findings are officially contested.“After the board exams end, all students accused of malpractice are called to the board office. They are given a chance to defend themselves. In such cases, CCTV footage becomes crucial evidence. The directive is aimed at ensuring transparency and strengthening the board’s case in disputed matters,” he said.Patve said the board expects all centres to comply with the 30-day preservation rule so that any complaint or appeal can be examined on the basis of recorded evidence, ensuring fairness to students and accountability of institutions.Patve further stated that the board has permanently barred examination centres where copying cases were detected in 2025. The step was necessary to send a clear message that negligence or complicity will not be tolerated.“Once a centre is barred, it faces reputational damage that other institutions seek to avoid. This becomes like a hall of shame for them; hence every centre wants to keep its reputation intact,” Patve said.On the first day of the ongoing board examinations on Tuesday, only one copying case was reported in the Nagpur division. Patve said the low number reflects the impact of a sustained anti-malpractice campaign undertaken over the past year.Patve said he personally visited all six districts under the Nagpur divisional board. Meetings were held with centre heads, school authorities, and local officials to stress the strict implementation of exam guidelines. The campaign focused on awareness about the consequences of copying, the need for vigilance inside examination halls, and adherence to surveillance norms.He said the board also emphasised preventive measures rather than only punitive action. Centres were encouraged to strengthen internal monitoring and ensure that CCTV systems function properly throughout the exam period.
