It is often observed that there is confusion around rules and facilities available for students with special needs due to differing interpretations by school heads and examination centre heads.
(Arul Horizon/Representative image)
Ahead of the Higher Secondary Certificate and Secondary School Certificate examinations, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has launched its official YouTube channel to guide students, schools and examination centre officials.
Apart from videos carrying encouraging messages from well known personalities, the channel will host informative videos in which board officials explain various examination rules, with the aim of avoiding confusion among students, schools and exam centre staff during board exams.
Maharashtra State Board chairman Trigun Kulkarni said the initiative was meant to reach the target audience through the most effective medium of communication. “There is nothing new when it comes to rules and regulations related to exams. Despite this, there is always confusion around exams due to differences in interpretations of the written document. In order to clear all such doubts, various such topics are distributed among heads of all nine divisions of the Maharashtra State Board to shoot and upload videos on the YouTube channel,” said Kulkarni, who has become the first IAS officer to head the Maharashtra State Board.
Highlighting one such recurring issue, Kulkarni said it is often observed that there is confusion around rules and facilities available for students with special needs due to differing interpretations by school heads and examination centre heads.
Launched last month, the YouTube channel Maharashtra State Board Pune already hosts videos featuring senior government officials such as Ranjit Singh Deol, principal secretary for school education, and IPS officer Vishwas Nagre Patil, among others. These videos carry motivational messages and encourage students to stay away from malpractices during examinations.
Another set of videos features board officials at the divisional level explaining rules under different categories. These include Latur division head Sudhakar Telang elaborating on facilities available for children with disabilities or special needs and how to avail them, and Kolhapur division head Rajesh Kshirsagar explaining actions prescribed for various kinds of examination malpractices and copying cases.
Kulkarni said the board also plans to upload content on other exam related topics such as stress management and subject specific guidance. “Apart from confusion around technicalities of the exams, there are numerous queries on such topics, especially on stress management, not only by aspirants but also their parents. While the traditional helpline practice will continue, these videos aim to provide some basic information in advance,” he said.
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For the 2026 board examinations, the HSC written exams will be held from February 10 to March 18, 2026, while the SSC written exams are scheduled from February 20 to March 18, 2026. Practical and oral assessments for HSC will take place from January 23 to February 9, 2026, and from February 2 to February 18, 2026 for SSC.
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
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