Bihar Matriculation Exams Commence Under Tight Security
The Matriculation examination conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) began peacefully across the state on Tuesday. Students appeared for language papers, including Hindi, Bangla, Urdu, or Maithili, in both morning and afternoon sittings at all 1,699 designated examination centers. The process was marked by stringent security measures to ensure a fair and orderly environment.
Expert Analysis: Hindi Paper Balanced and Syllabus-Based
Subject experts provided a detailed assessment of the Hindi paper, describing it as average in difficulty and well within the reach of prepared students. Amresh Kumar, a Hindi teacher at ANS College in Barh, emphasized that the examination tested knowledge without straying beyond the prescribed syllabus. According to Kumar, the paper struck a fine balance—neither overly demanding nor simplistic. He noted that students who had diligently engaged with their coursework and textbooks could approach it with confidence.
Kumar elaborated on the structure, stating, "Most students found the short-answer section comfortable since they had to attempt only 50 out of 100 questions, and anyone who had read the books even moderately could handle these easily. The real challenge came in the long-answer questions, which demanded more writing and deeper explanation."
Devyani Shrivastava, a Hindi teacher at Painal High School in Bihta, echoed this sentiment, terming the paper average and fair. She said, "There were no questions outside the syllabus. Students who thoroughly completed the main textbook, including prose and poetry, along with the grammar book, faced no major difficulty and could score very well. The paper was textbook-based and genuinely student-friendly."
Security and Administrative Measures
In Patna district, the examination proceeded peacefully at all 70 centers. The BSEB chairman conducted inspections at several locations, such as Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav High School in Punaichak, Govt +2 Girls School in Bankipur, and Devi Prasad Miller Inter School. During these visits, he frisked some examinees to enforce security protocols.
The chairman announced that students who missed the exam due to late arrival would be allowed to appear in a supplementary examination soon. However, he warned against attempts to forcibly enter centers by scaling boundary walls. This year, examinees were given 100% additional choice in both objective and subjective questions, contributing to overall satisfaction with the language paper.
Security measures were rigorous, with examinees frisked twice—once at the main entrance and again inside the examination hall. Prohibited items included calculators, mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, earphones, and other electronic gadgets. Each center had one invigilator for every 25 students, and the entire examination was videographed in both sittings. Adequate police personnel and magistrates were deployed to maintain peace and fairness.
Special Model Centers and Disciplinary Actions
In a notable initiative, each district featured four "model centers" staffed entirely by women, including examinees, invigilators, police, magistrates, and support personnel. In Patna district, these centers were Govt Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Bankipur, Govt Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Shashtri Nagar, Kamla Nehru Girls’ High School in Yarpur, and Govt Girls’ High School in Gardanibagh. These venues were decorated with balloons and flowers, and examinees were welcomed at the entrance with floral greetings.
Despite the overall smooth conduct, disciplinary issues arose. On the first day, five examinees were expelled for using unfair means, and nine candidates were caught in cases of impersonation, according to BSEB sources.
Looking Ahead
Students are scheduled to appear for the mathematics paper in both sittings on Wednesday, continuing the examination series under the same secure and organized framework.
