UP Board Exam 2026: New Digital Centres, Capacity & Security

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (UPMSP) has released important new rules for choosing exam centres for the upcoming UP Board High School and Intermediate exams 2026 . These changes aim to make the exam process more fair, secure, and ensure students take their exams in well-equipped schools. A new digital system will now be used to decide where students take their exams, and the student capacity at each centre has been increased. Security measures for question papers are also being strengthened.

Digital System to Pick Exam Centres

For the first time, UPMSP will use a computer-based system to select exam centres. This new digital policy will consider important information about a school's infrastructure and its geographical location. This method helps reduce manual errors and ensures a more objective selection process, promoting fairness for all students.

• Exam centres will be chosen so they are within a radius of 7 to 15 kilometres from students' schools. This helps reduce travel time for students.
• The process of selecting these centres will begin on November 10 and is expected to be completed by December 30 . This timeline allows for careful planning.

New Rules for Selecting Exam Centres

The UP government has issued specific guidelines for schools to qualify as exam centres for both Class 10 (High School) and Class 12 (Intermediate) examinations. These rules prioritize schools with better facilities and security.

• Schools with good laboratory facilities will be given preference. This is crucial, especially for subjects requiring practical exams.
• Schools that have a working CCTV camera system installed will also receive priority. CCTV helps ensure strict monitoring during exams and prevents unfair means.
• Schools with a higher student holding capacity will get more points during the selection process. This helps accommodate the large number of students appearing for the exams.
• For the first time, schools that mark their student attendance online will be awarded an additional 10 points for centre determination. This encourages digital record-keeping and efficiency.

Increased Student Capacity at Centres

The number of students that each approved exam centre can host has been increased for the 2026 exams. This adjustment aims to manage the large student population more efficiently.

• The student capacity per exam centre has been raised from 2,000 to 2,200 students . This means each centre can now accommodate an extra 200 students.

Enhanced Security for Question Papers

Ensuring the safety and security of question papers is a top priority for UPMSP. To prevent any leaks or mishaps, new and stricter measures are being put in place.

• Each examination centre will now be provided with four double-locked cabinets for securely storing question papers.
• This is an increase from the 2025 examination, where centres were provided with three cabinets. The additional cabinet adds another layer of security.

Over 52 Lakh Students to Appear

A significant number of students are preparing to appear for the UP Board exams in 2026. The board has provided an estimate of the total student participation and noted some changes in registrations.

• Reportedly, more than 52,00,000 students will appear for the UP Board Class 10 and 12 exams 2026 .
• The number of students registered for Class 12 (Intermediate) exams has decreased by approximately 2.25 lakh students this year.
• However, registrations for the Class 10 (High School) exams have seen an increase.
• The UPMSP plans to conduct the UP Board exam 2026 tentatively in February-March 2026 .

Key Dates for UP Board Exam Centre Allocation 2026

Students and schools should note these important dates regarding the exam centre selection process:

These new policies by the UPMSP show a strong commitment to conducting the upcoming board exams in a transparent, efficient, and secure manner, benefiting lakhs of students across Uttar Pradesh.