AI Generated Summary
- The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is gearing up to conduct this year’s board examinations with a strong focus on technology-driven security and transparency, introducing digital tracking of question papers and barcode-enabled answer sheets for the first time.
- With these measures in place, the PSEB hopes to conduct the upcoming examinations in a secure, transparent and student-friendly manner, reflecting a growing shift towards technology-led governance in school education.
- The app digitally monitors the movement of sealed packets from the board headquarters to banks for storage and then to examination centres.
The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is gearing up to conduct this year’s board examinations with a strong focus on technology-driven security and transparency, introducing digital tracking of question papers and barcode-enabled answer sheets for the first time.
According to officials, the new system will be implemented for examinations starting February 17, when Class VIII and Class XII students begin their theory papers. Class X examinations are scheduled to start later, on March 6. Practical exams, meanwhile, are already in progress across the state from February 2 to 12.
This year, the board has set up 2,366 examination centres to accommodate lakhs of candidates. Around 2.77 lakh students will sit for the Class VIII exams, more than 2.72 lakh for Class X, and nearly 2.69 lakh for Class XII, making it one of the largest examination exercises in Punjab.
PSEB Chairman Dr. Amarpal Singh said the board has rolled out a dedicated mobile application, the MATQ App, to ensure secure handling of confidential question papers. The app digitally monitors the movement of sealed packets from the board headquarters to banks for storage and then to examination centres. Each handover requires photographic proof, while GPS-based verification confirms that deliveries occur only at authorised locations.
Officials noted that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to minimise errors and prevent any breach of secrecy. A central control room is also being set up at the board’s Mohali office to address grievances during the examination period.
To curb unfair practices, observers will be deployed during sensitive examinations and more than 300 flying squads will operate across the state. At examination centres, answer sheets will be issued under strict supervision and marked with barcodes so that evaluators cannot identify candidates, ensuring impartial assessment.
The board has also attempted to simplify logistics for students. Roll number slips now include clearly mapped examination centres, allowing candidates to locate venues in advance and avoid last-minute confusion.
With these measures in place, the PSEB hopes to conduct the upcoming examinations in a secure, transparent and student-friendly manner, reflecting a growing shift towards technology-led governance in school education.
