AI-based security for UP board exams 2025: A vision from Secretary Bhagwati Singh

PRAYAGRAJ: The authorities of the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board, commonly known as the UP Councilhave introduced the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the security of the vault, which will store the question papers and answer sheets.
Based on software specially designed to meet the Board’s requirements, the AI-powered system aims to eliminate any possibility of paper leakage or tampering, thereby ensuring that exams are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
In an interview with TOI, UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh explained, “The AI-based software is designed to monitor the vault as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) that we have put in place to secure the room and prevent any leaks or malicious activity. ” He further clarified that the software would capture live feeds from CCTV cameras installed in the strong room and exam centers, monitoring them 24 hours a day. “If it detects any activity that violates the SOPs, it will send immediately an alert, which will then be verified by staff in the control room at Council headquarters, and appropriate action will be taken.
The Council also developed an SOP to guide staff actions in response to suspicious activities. For example, if the safe lock is opened in the presence of more or less than the required three people, the system will report this and request further action.
“This will reduce the number of employees required to monitor CCTV feeds 24 hours a day, as the software will take care of the monitoring, allowing us to reduce manpower requirements,” Singh said. The control room will be equipped with a large LED wall to monitor all strong rooms.
The Council also invited tenders to establish the necessary infrastructure, in addition to the existing facility at the Council’s headquarters and its five regional offices.