Maharashtra State Board Of Secondary And Higher Secondary Education To Conduct SSC Exams For Over 16 Lakh Students From February 20
Maharashtra State Board Of Secondary And Higher Secondary Education To Conduct SSC Exams For Over 16 Lakh Students From February 20
Pune, February 19, 2026: More than 16 lakh students across Maharashtra will begin their Class 10 board examinations on February 20, as the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) rolls out the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams. The written papers will continue until March 18 and will be administered through nine divisional boards — Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Amravati, Nashik, Latur and Konkan.
According to acting chairperson Nandkumar Bedse, a total of 16,15,489 students have registered this year. This includes 8,65,740 boys, 7,49,736 girls and 13 transgender candidates. Students from 23,683 schools will appear at 5,111 examination centres statewide.
Hall tickets and detailed timetables have already been issued to schools. To curb malpractice, the board has deployed 271 flying squads and set up district-level vigilance committees under the supervision of respective district collectors. Although CCTV systems are installed at most venues, 554 centres do not have camera coverage. Of 191 locations identified as sensitive, 42 lack CCTV surveillance; authorities have made special staffing adjustments at these centres to maintain strict oversight.
As part of its efforts to ensure fair examinations, the board has implemented a statewide “Copy-Free Campaign.” Centres located within 500 metres of photocopy shops are required to remain shut during exam hours. Examination proceedings at CCTV-enabled venues will be recorded, and any violations will invite action under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act, 1982, which provides for stringent penalties.
To help students manage stress, the board has appointed 10 state-level counsellors and two counsellors in each divisional board. The timetable has been structured to allow adequate gaps between papers, and students will receive an additional 10 minutes beyond the scheduled duration of each exam.
In the Pune division, two visually impaired students will take the examination in online mode this year.
The number of candidates has risen by 3,879 compared to last year. While there were 5,130 centres in 2025, the count has marginally reduced to 5,111 this year, with 31 previously flagged centres being cancelled. Last year, 319 malpractice cases were reported. The overall SSC pass percentage stood at 94.10%, with Konkan division leading at 98.82%, followed by Kolhapur and Mumbai. The Mumbai division has the highest number of candidates this year at 3,49,873.
Students who are unable to attend practical, oral or internal assessments due to medical or unavoidable reasons will be allowed to appear for special “out-of-turn” exams on March 20, 23 and 24, 2026. Internal and practical marks will be uploaded online.
Key Instructions for Students
- Reach the examination centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Morning session begins at 10:30 am; afternoon session starts at 2:30 pm.
- Admit cards can be accessed online through school login portals.
- Carefully follow all instructions printed on the answer booklet and hall ticket.
- An extra 10 minutes will be granted beyond the exam duration.
- Divyang (differently-abled) students will receive concessions as per government norms.
Students and parents can seek guidance from the board-appointed counsellors through the designated helpline numbers issued by the board.
