Students in India barred from using religious signs on answer sheets

NEW DELHI: The UP Board (Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad) has directed students not to put any religious signs or numbers like 'Om' and '786' on answer sheets while appearing for high school and intermediate examinations.

As per the order, students violating the directive could be disqualified from the examination, India Today reported. The order has been released with an aim to keep religion away from the examination process and also, to keep the religion of the examinees a secret from the examiners.

With the board exams approaching, the board has also directed the examination superintendents to ensure that the examinees do not carry any electronic gadgets which could assist them in copying, the reports said. Also, the examinees have been asked to carry original registration card of Class 9 and Class 11 issued to them at the time of taking admission to Class 10 and 12.

The order released by the Board also says that any examinee, if found flouting the directives, could be debarred from the current year examination or permanently. The UP Board high school and intermediate examinations for the year 2016 will be conducted from February 18 onward. The exams of both the board classes would conclude by the end of the March.

As per the reports, a total of 6,793,034 students are registered for the examinations including 3,749,977 students for high school and 3,043,057 students for intermediate examination.