A total of 9,97,075 candidates registered for the Intermediate Public Examinations (Theory) 2026, including 4,89,126 from the first year, will take the examination starting Wednesday (February 25). Over 92,000 of them include candidates from both first and second years taking the exams in the vocational stream.

All the exams will be held from 9 a.m. till 12 noon, and they will conclude on March 18.

Addressing the media here, Secretary, Board of Intermediate Education, S. Krishna Aditya said all arrangements are in place to conduct the examination schedule smoothly and efficiently.

Like last academic year’s assessment, all theory examination centres, 1,495 now in the 33 districts with three to six cameras per centre, have been integrated with the command control centre here and will be monitored continuously with special staff.

Each exam hall will also be equipped with a wall clock, sufficient furniture, lighting and a drinking water facility.

In all, about 28,500 invigilators, 1,495 chief superintendents and an equal number of department officers for each centre, 75 flying squads and 200 sitting squads will work to conduct the examination smoothly.

Mr. Krishna Aditya said BIE-issued hall tickets will feature a Quick Response code, which can help the candidates locate the exact examination venue, a practice that started last year. Each question paper will also bear a serial number and a QR code to ensure clear tracking — district-wise and centre-wise — improving transparency and efficiency.

On reporting time at the examination venue, he said candidates should prefer arriving at the venue one hour before the exam begins at 9 a.m. After checking of candidate’s bio data and OMR sheets between 8.45 a.m. and 9 a.m., the question paper will be distributed.

Mr. Krishna Aditya clarified that candidates, for any situation, will still be allowed into the examination hall by a grace time of 5 minutes. However, he advised students to arrive in advance to avoid morning panic, and to physically and mentally relax to take the test positively. For exam-related stress, students are also advised to call the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking (Tele-MANAS) on toll free number 14416.