Cuttack: Odisha Board of Secondary Education (BSE)-conducted matriculation Summative Assessment-I tests will begin from tomorrow (November 23). Question papers have already been sent to respective nodal centres and the Board is prepared to conduct the tests, a BSE spokesperson said today.

Seals of the question paper packets will be opened exactly before 15 minutes of the beginning of the tests. Special squads have been formed to curb malpractice and to smoothly conduct the tests.

At least 5,40,712 candidates will appear the tests this year in as many as 3029 examination centres in the State. Similarly, 2,914 candidates will appear the exams in 108 centres for Madhyama and 7,181 candidates will appear the exams in 146 centres for Open School Certificate.

There are 316 nodal centres in place and the question papers have been kept under strict vigil.

Around 22 nodal centres have been setup in Maoist-infested areas, including seven police stations in Kandhamal, 10 in Malkangiri and five in Koraput districts. However, all the nodal centres are located within 10-kilometre radius of the respective exam centres.

“On the first day of examination, the candidates are required to enter their respective centres at 9 am. However, the candidates will be allowed to enter at 9.15 am on the other days. The exams are to begin at 10 am and to continue till 12 noon. Extra time of 15 minutes will be allowed to candidates appearing mathematics,” President of the Board Ramashis Hazra informed.

Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the exam centres and district education officer (DEO) level squads will be pressed into service along with the central squad to prevent malpractice.

Students will carry pen and admit card alone in to the examination centres, Hazra added.