New Guidelines for Class XII Exams Announced; Strict Curbs on Gadgets

The Higher Secondary Council has released the instructions for next year’s Class XII fourth-semester examinations, scheduled for February. Students will answer a mix of short-form and long-form questions on standard answer sheets.

According to the council, only simple analogue wristwatches will be allowed inside the examination halls. All digital or electronic items - including mobile phones, smartwatches, pen drives, Bluetooth accessories, scanners, electronic pens, and similar devices - are strictly prohibited.

The final semester exam will run from February 12 to February 25 and will be taken by students who entered Class XI last year under the semester-based Plus-II structure.

Because many higher secondary schools do not have enough teachers available to supervise the tests, the council has decided that invigilation should primarily be handled by permanent teachers from the exam venue or from institutions not involved in that day’s test. If there are still not enough invigilators, teachers from junior high schools can be assigned, and in cases of severe shortage, even primary-school teachers may be deployed with approval from district education officials.

A council representative explained that the shortage stems from an insufficient number of higher secondary-level teachers. Although a recruitment examination for Plus-II teachers was held in September, the hiring process has not yet begun, making it necessary to draw supervisors from lower school levels.