17 Teachers Booked After Drone Catches Mass Copying in Maharashtra HSC Exam 2026

Beed/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra), 12 Feb 2026: The Maharashtra HSC (Class 12) board examinations 2026 have been hit by major malpractice controversies within days of their commencement, with authorities taking strong action after drone and CCTV surveillance captured widespread cheating at multiple centres.

Drone Footage Exposes Cheating at Beed Centre

At Centre No. 224 in Chousala, Beed district, a drone-mounted surveillance camera deployed as part of anti-copying measures captured supervisors in at least 16 halls failing to stop cheating — and in some cases allegedly assisting students. Following this, the Beed Collector ordered strict action, and an FIR was registered at Neknoor police station on Wednesday night against 17 teachers, including the exam centre chief, under relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Universities, Boards and Other Specified Examinations (Prevention of Malpractices) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita The incident occurred on Tuesday, the first day of the HSC examinations being held by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), with thousands of students appearing at examination centres across the state.

Separate Mass Copying Case in Sambhajinagar

In a related development, mass copying during the Class 12 English exam at Rashtriya Higher Secondary School in Jaitapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district led to an FIR against 23 individuals including invigilators and other centre staff. CCTV footage confirmed students copying from each other’s answer sheets, prompting a vigilance committee to move swiftly Education officials have initiated the suspension process for the Zilla Parishad staffers involved, and the entire examination staff at the centre was replaced to ensure the smooth continuation of remaining exams.

Tough Surveillance Measures Amidst Ongoing Exams

The HSC board exams, which began on 10 February and continue through 11 March 2026, are being conducted in two shifts across thousands of centres. The board has implemented robust anti-malpractice measures including CCTV monitoring, flying squad inspections, CCTV control rooms, and drone surveillance at sensitive centres. Despite these efforts, the cheating cases at Beed and Sambhajinagar underscore continuing challenges in enforcing exam integrity and have prompted urgent reviews of surveillance effectiveness and invigilation protocols by education authorities.

Government and Board Response

Authorities have reiterated a zero-tolerance policy toward unfair practices. Strict action under the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982, can lead to legal consequences, staff suspensions, and replacement of examination personnel at identified centres. The unfolding developments have sparked widespread reactions from parents, educators, and students alike, highlighting both the scale of the malpractice and the state’s intensified crackdown to preserve the credibility of board examinations.