BHUBANESWAR: The annual Higher Secondary Examination 2025, (plus two exam) conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), commenced across Odisha on Tuesday.
A total of 3.93 lakh students appeared for the exams at 1,267 centres under stringent security measures, including CCTV surveillance.
On the first day, 1.14 lakh science stream students sat for the Odia (Mother Indian Language) paper. Students from the arts, commerce, and vocational streams will take their first exam on Wednesday.
This year, CHSE introduced a new examination pattern similar to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), featuring more objective-type questions and fewer subjective ones. Many students expressed confidence in the new system.
“The new pattern is helpful as objective questions allow us to score better. It also reduces the burden of writing long answers,” said Riya Mishra, a science student from Bhubaneswar.
School authorities also supported the change. “The new format aligns with national standards and will prepare students for competitive exams,” said a CHSE official.
The exams will be held in a single sitting from 10am to 1pm and will continue until March 27. To prevent malpractice, CHSE implemented a five-tier squad system. Officials assured strict vigilance across all centres.
“We have deployed squads at multiple levels to ensure fair examinations. Any malpractice will be dealt with strictly,” said Prasant Parida, CHSE controller of examinations.
With tightened security and a revised format, students remain optimistic about their performance in the exams.