Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad or UPMSP has implemented some regulations for the exam centres for the upcoming UP board exams 2021. It is expected that the authorities will increase the number of exam centres for the Class 10 and 12 board exam for the academic session 2020-21. This is to ensure that students maintain social distancing while appearing for the exam. Some reports also suggest that schools that do not have the access to adjacent roads (of more than 10-feet width), will not be considered eligible for the UP board exam centres. According to sources, this decision is taken to ensure that students follow social distancing outside the exam centres as well. Also, a proper road access will allow ‘Flying Squads’ to reach the exam centres in time, which will ensure smooth conduct of the examinations without any misconduct from students.

Besides, the UP Government has also implemented a new regulation for the girl students. The authorities have now made it mandatory to allot the examination centres to girls that are within a radius of 5 kilometres from their respective schools. Also, the schools which don’t have proper electricity facilities will not be considered for UP board exam centres.

The UP Board schedule is expected to be released by the end of December 2020. As per the sources, the UP government might further reduce the already reduced syllabus for Class 10 and 12 (academic session 2020-21). Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh State Education Board had reduced the 30% of syllabus for both Class 10 and 12. The decision was taken to take some burden off the student’s shoulders, who have been forced to study through online classes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It is expected that as many as 56 lakh students will appear for the Class 10 and 12 (joint) UP board exams 2020-21. Last year, 55 lakh students appeared for the exams in 7786 exam centres, which itself was a record for the state board exams.