Maharashtra copy-free exam drive falters, state must tackle the roots
Updated On: 17 March, 2026 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Recent cheating cases during the SSC and HSC exams show that while enforcement and surveillance are important, lasting reform will require addressing the deeper culture of academic dishonesty within the system overseen by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education

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The state government’s much-publicised ‘copy-free examination’ mission during the February-March 2026 SSC and HSC board exams has suffered a major setback, with at least 14 malpractice cases detected across the state and 103 staff suspended, our report stated.
According to official records released by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education on Friday, irregularities were reported from several districts, including Beed, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Washim, Gadchiroli, Nanded, and Dharashiv.

