Mohali: With Class VIII, X and XII board examinations kicking off in Punjab on Wednesday, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) implemented an extensive security and monitoring mechanism to ensure the free, fair and transparent conduct of examinations. Over 8 lakh students appeared in the exams on the first day.The state govt enforced a multi-layered framework that included 384 flying squads, strict imposition of Section 144 around exam centres and the introduction of a first-of-its-kind MATQ App for real-time tracking of question papers.Education minister Harjot Singh Bains said examinations were conducted in a secure and disciplined environment, reflecting the govt’s commitment to transparency and accountability in education.“With over 8.18 lakh students appearing in the board exams, PSEB established 6,792 examination centres across the state — 2,307 for Class VIII; 2,367 for Class X; and 2,118 for Class XII. To ensure smooth conduct, 2,469 superintendents and 3,193 deputy superintendents were deployed,” Bains said.To curb malpractice and cheating, 384 flying squads, including 111 special teams, were constituted to conduct surprise inspections. Additionally, Section 144 was strictly imposed within a 100-metre radius of all examination centres to prevent the gathering of unauthorised persons.In a significant technological intervention, the MATQ app was introduced for real-time tracking of question papers, aimed at eliminating the risk of leakage and ensuring foolproof security.Over 5,600 officials were deployed on the ground to guarantee credible and smooth examinations across Punjab, the minister said.
