Chennai: Tamil Nadu will continue to rely on teachers for board exam invigilation, while states such as Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka plan to use AI for surveillance.
Chennai Chief Education Officer Pugalendhi said that while AI is making inroads in education, its role in monitoring exams remains limited. “We are not using AI to detect malpractices during board exams.

Ministers and district officers are inspecting centres to ensure proper infrastructure. For every 20 students, a teacher will supervise.” On Friday, school education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi inspected govt higher secondary school in Saidapet ahead of practical exams.
Many teachers believe human invigilators remain irreplaceable. “We are learning to use AI for lesson planning and assessment, but its role in exam supervision is still unexplored,” said Sugandhi Mohanapriya, a govt school biology teacher from Saligramam. Maithiri Suresh, govt school headmistress from Cuddalore, added: “AI-powered monitoring can flag irregularities but should complement, not replace, human supervision. AI can detect anomalies, but teachers understand context and intent, which is crucial for fairness.”
Many states are already testing AI-driven exam monitoring. Uttar Pradesh is rolling out 24/7 AI surveillance for its 2025 high school and intermediate exams, while Karnataka’s School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) is piloting AI-powered monitoring with Microsoft, analysing video feeds for potential malpractice and sending real-time alerts to officials.
Experts suggest TN experiment with AI on a smaller scale. “Piloting AI in select schools helps assess its role in reducing malpractice and justifying the investment. It can also highlight potential cost savings from reduced manpower requirements,” said N Rajendran, head, history department, at Bharathidasan University. “We tested tech-driven monitoring just after Covid-19. We realised there is a psychological difference when a teacher is present in class.”