UP Board Exam 2026: 18 Districts Declared Sensitive, STF to Monitor Exams

• UP Board High School and Intermediate exams for 2025-26 session begin February 18, with practicals starting January 24.
• 18 districts, including Agra, Mathura, and Prayagraj, have been declared sensitive due to past irregularities and will be under STF surveillance.
• A total of 52.30 lakh students are registered for exams from February 18 to March 12 across 8033 centers.
• The board has debarred 639 schools for cheating, with 254 permanently excluded and 385 facing recognition revocation.
• Strict penalties under the UP Public Examinations Act-2024 include a fine of up to one crore rupees and life imprisonment for cheating.

Why It Matters: UP Board 2026 exams will see heightened security and STF monitoring in 18 sensitive districts to prevent cheating.