The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has announced a new anti-cheating measure for the 2027 Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations by introducing students' signatures on admit cards for the first time. The initiative is aimed at preventing impersonation during examinations and strengthening identity verification at examination centres. Officials believe the move will improve transparency and ensure that only registered candidates are allowed to appear for the board exams.
As part of the ongoing registration process for the 2026-27 academic session, the board is collecting students' signatures along with their photographs. Beginning with the 2027 examinations, these signatures will be printed on admit cards and matched with the signatures made by candidates on their answer booklets and attendance registers during the examination. The additional verification step is expected to make it more difficult for proxy candidates to take examinations on behalf of registered students.
The decision follows multiple instances of impersonation reported during previous UP Board examinations. According to officials, organised cheating rackets allegedly manipulated photographs on admit cards to send proxy candidates, commonly referred to as "solvers," into examination halls. Several First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered in connection with such cases. By incorporating signatures into the verification process, the board hopes to significantly reduce examination malpractice and strengthen the integrity of the assessment system.
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Meanwhile, the registration process for students appearing in the 2027 High School and Intermediate examinations is currently underway and will continue until August 5. The board has also issued the schedule for private candidates. Principals of forwarding centres have been instructed to accept application forms and examination fees from private candidates until the same deadline to ensure timely completion of the registration process.
According to the notification, examination fees must be deposited in the government treasury through a single challan by August 10. Candidates who miss the deadline will be permitted to submit the fee with a late charge of ₹100 per student until August 16. UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh has directed school principals to upload students' educational records and examination fee details on the board's website by midnight on August 16. They must also submit the photograph-based list of registered candidates and treasury documents by September 30.
The introduction of signature-based verification reflects the UP Board's broader efforts to enhance the credibility and security of its examination system. By combining photograph verification with signature matching, the board aims to minimise identity fraud, improve monitoring at examination centres and ensure a fair evaluation process for lakhs of students expected to appear in the 2027 board examinations.
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