The Mumbai Division of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (which conducts the SSC and HSC examinations) has given special instructions to city schools and colleges conducting the board exams this year to beware of hoax calls during the exams. While board officials expect hoax calls from unprepared students in the wake of the 26/11 attacks, they also want to ensure that there is no untoward incident at any exam centre.

"We are asking schools to do a thorough check of the centres every day before the exams begin. Each classroom and toilet should be checked for any suspicious item. Once this is done, no outsider should be allowed to enter the campus till the day's paper is over," said Basanti Roy, secretary of the Mumbai divisional board, "We do not want the students to be distracted during their exams. The institution's head should handle the situation with care and avoid panicking after any call. The exams should continue as scheduled and the police can do a check after the exams are over."

Last year, a suburban college received a hoax call, but since it was made an hour before exams, the schedule was not disrupted.

Yogita Rao/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication