LUCKNOW: The number of candidates appearing for the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board (
UPSEB) has decreased by a record nine lakh this year. Against 66 lakh candidates who registered in 2017, just 56 lakh registered by the last date, August 20, for the 2019 examination.
Board officials attributed the drastic fall in numbers to the crackdown on the ‘cheating mafia’ and Aadhaar being mandatory for registration. This year, 31.5 lakh students have registered for Class 10 and 24.9 lakh for Class 12. Last year, the figures were 36.5 lakh and 29 lakh for Classes 10 and 12, respectively.
“The crackdown on the copying mafia resulted in a large number of students dropping out this year. Aadhaar being mandatory for registration has removed fake and multiple registrations,” said UPSEB additional secretary (administration)
Shiv Lal.
“Online registration has checked fake candidates. It also seems that the number of students from other states who write the exams the help of
cheating mafia has come down this year,” said RP Mishra, state secretary, UP Secondary Education Teachers’ Association.
Until last year, the registration count was high as one candidate would apply from different colleges. Since registration was done manually, there was no check. Online registration has removed duplication, said a board official. This year, the state government amended the forwarding policy, resulting in a decrease in the number private category students. UPSEB had warned principals of legal action if they forwarded more online application forms under the private category than was allowed under the policy.
Representative Image
