CISCE Tightens Exam Security for ICSE, ISC 2027 After Last Year’s Paper Mix-ups

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) today, September 14, 2026, announced a significant tightening of exam venue checks, including complete reviews of CCTV infrastructure, secure storage facilities, and medical provisions across India. This move aims to prevent malpractices and ensure transparency in the examination process, particularly after last year’s incidents where incorrect exam papers were retrieved from strongrooms, leading to rescheduled examinations.

The enhanced security protocols will directly impact 17 ICSE schools in the zone, which are now under pressure to comply with stringent new directives well in advance of the ISC Class-XII examinations beginning on February 13, 2027, and the ICSE Class-X examinations following on February 18, 2027. These measures are designed to restore confidence in the integrity of the board examinations.

Cisce 2027 Exams: Enhanced Security Directives

CISCE has mandated 24/7 surveillance across all school premises involved in the examinations, encompassing examination rooms, strongrooms, and administrative offices. This continuous monitoring will extend until July 2027, covering the entire examination cycle and potential re-evaluation requests. Schools have been instructed to install additional CCTV cameras, ensure uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems, and provide sufficient storage drives to retain daily video footage for several months.

A school official highlighted the operational and financial strain, stating, "This directive places a significant burden on schools, both financially and operationally." Another official added, "We are required to maintain continuous surveillance, not just during exams but even after results are declared, in case of re-evaluation requests." Principals’ offices will also remain under surveillance, with video evidence required for all key processes, including the crucial sealing of exam bundles.

Cisce 2027: New Technology and Logistics Control

The board has introduced a dedicated application, ‘Exam Eye,’ designed to track the entire examination process in real-time. This app incorporates geotagged photos of question paper withdrawals from strongrooms, their distribution to examination rooms, and the subsequent submission of answer scripts. Also, CISCE has taken direct control of the logistics for exam papers, a responsibility previously managed by individual schools. A designated courier service will now collect exam papers from schools, and officials are required to upload photographs of the institution head, centre superintendent, and courier representative as proof of handover.

In a bid to prevent mix-ups, CISCE has also implemented a colour-coded system for exam packets, with each day assigned a distinct colour. An official explained, "This year, exam packets are colour-coded by day and week. For instance, Monday’s packets may be pink, Tuesday’s green, and Wednesday’s yellow." This system aims to reduce the likelihood of incorrect papers being distributed, a problem that led to the postponement of psychology and chemistry papers for Class 12 last year.

Challenges for Schools and Broader Context

The new directives have necessitated significant infrastructure upgrades for schools. A school principal noted, "We have had to purchase new UPS systems and storage devices, but technology is not infallible. A power failure or recording glitch could raise questions about our compliance." The principal further stressed the importance of meticulous execution, stating, "We must ensure flawless execution to avoid complications." Despite repeated attempts, CISCE deputy secretary Sangeeta Bhatia declined to comment on the new security measures, and deputy secretary Eka Kaundal Parihar remained unreachable.

These stringent measures by CISCE come amidst a broader national push for examination security. The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for examinations like NEET, JEE Main, and CUET, has also significantly revamped its security protocols. For the NEET UG 2026 Re-Examination scheduled for June 21, the NTA deployed over 1.38 lakh CCTV cameras, 51,311 jammers, and over 6,700 observers across 5,440 exam centres in 551 cities. The NTA has also introduced AI-based monitoring, biometric verification, and face authentication, involving local police, state police, paramilitary forces, the Indian Air Force, and the Department of Posts for logistics and security. The NTA is also revamping its examination system with a four-tier question-paper checking mechanism and using Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)-secured offices to prevent paper leaks.

NEET 2026 Re-Exam Security Measures – Key Highlights

Written by Simran

Simran is currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Findmycollege , where she creates engaging and research-driven learning resources for students. She has completed her Graduation in Journalism from Delhi University. With 4 years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has previously contributed to leading platforms like Leverage Edu and Aakash. Her expertise lies in simplifying Engineering and Medical entrance exam content to guide aspirants in their preparation journey. Beyond writing, Simran enjoys sketching, watching movies, and finding creative inspiration in everyday life.

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