UP Board Exams 2026: Here’s why there is a decline in exam centres
The UP Board has cut down exam centres for 2026 because fewer students are appearing this year. Strict rules to stop cheating have also affected participation.
UP Board Class 12 Exams 2026:
The Uttar Pradesh Class 12 Board Examination 2026 will be conducted from
February 18 to March 12, 2026
, and will take place with noticeably fewer centres than the previous year. This time, the Board has sanctioned
7,448 centres
, whereas the previous cycle had 8,110. This decrease has caught attention throughout the state as it indicates a change in participation from students, and for the term ahead in the Board’s exam management.
The primary motive for the closure of the centres has been the
huge decline in the number of examinees
. This is the common factor, especially in the Intermediate division. The number of students who appeared for class 12 exams last year was 2.70 million, but now it has
decreased to 2.47 million
, which means that more than 2.25 lakh candidates have dropped out. With fewer students in need of accommodation, the Board has adjusted the number of centres accordingly.
Another factor is the strict anti-cheating regulations , which have been tightened in recent years. Many students who used to rely on unfair means were said to have not appeared for the exams out of fear of strict surveillance. There were some (FIRs) registered in earlier cycles with students who were caught cheating, further deterring those who were willing to take the risk. This has indirectly affected the total student turnout and the number of centres needed.
At the same time, the Board has also been faced with 8,707 objections to the proposed exam centres . These are objections to government-aided and unaided schools. Authorities have been instructed to go through the objections thoroughly and dispose of them by December 11. A fresh list will be out on December 17, and the final list will be released on December 30 after the district committees' verification.
Notwithstanding the decimation of centres, the UP Board has asserted that it is committed first and foremost to conducting fair, transparent and free-of-cheating examinations. Officials believe rigorous enforcement of exam integrity is critical to keeping the system credible. The reduced candidates and firm anti-cheating policies have shaped the exam pattern for the 2026 cycle.
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