UP Board Exams 2026: Drop in Centres and Students as Anti-Cheating Measures Intensify

The Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education will conduct the 2026 High School and Intermediate examinations from February 18 to March 12. However, the latest data shows a significant decline in both the number of examination centres and registered candidates compared to the previous year.

For the 2025 exam cycle, 8,110 schools were designated as centres. This year, the number has dropped to 7,448 approved centres. The Board has also received 8,707 objections against proposed exam centres, including 910 government schools, 3,484 aided institutions, and 2,354 unaided schools.

A total of 5,230,297 students have registered for the 2026 examinations — 2,750,945 for High School and 2,479,352 for Intermediate.

Reasons Behind the Drop in Exam Centres

Officials say the reduction in centres is directly linked to a decline in student enrolment, particularly in the Intermediate segment. Last year, 2,705,009 students appeared for Class 12 exams, but this number has decreased to 2,479,352, marking a drop of over 2.25 lakh candidates.

The Board has also intensified its anti-cheating measures to ensure transparent examinations. In previous years, strict vigilance and FIRs filed against students using unfair means reportedly discouraged many from appearing for the tests.

With fewer candidates and stronger enforcement, the Board has rationalised the number of centres to match reduced seating requirements.

Objections Under Review

The Board will examine all objections submitted online against the proposed centres. Officials have been asked to settle these cases by December 11, after which a revised list will be published on December 17.

The final list of exam centres will be released on December 30. Schools excluded as centres will have their cases reviewed by the District Centre Determination Committee, led by the District Magistrate.

Strengthened Focus on Exam Integrity

UP Board authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring fair, transparent, and cheating-free examinations. Officials believe that strict enforcement is essential to protect the credibility of the evaluation system. The combined impact of reduced candidate numbers and stringent anti-cheating measures has contributed to this year’s lower count of candidates and designated centres.