District Collector A. Siri asked officials to make arrangements for the smooth conduct of the SSC exams scheduled to be held from March 16 to April 1.

The exam will be held from 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., and the Collector asked the students to reach their allotted exam centre by 9 a.m. itself. She said students and invigilators would not be allowed to carry mobile phones into exam centres.

She asked the police to impose prohibitory orders near the exam centres to prevent crowding. The Labour Department was asked to see to that all photocopy shops in the vicinity of the centres remain closed on the examination day.

Education Department officials said 33,796 regular students and 1,975 private students will appear for the exams, and 160 exam centres would be set up.