The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has announced a rescheduling of the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in Prayagraj, originally slated for February 24, 2025. This decision comes in light of the ongoing MahaKumbh 2025 festival, which draws an enormous influx of devotees from across the globe. The exams will now be held on March 9, 2025, a shift aimed at managing the logistical and safety challenges during the festival's climactic period.
During the MahaKumbh, which reaches its peak on Mahashivratri—set for February 26—Prayagraj is expected to host an unprecedented number of visitors. These gatherings, defined by religious fervor and the expansive scope of events, necessitate meticulous planning to ensure safety and orderliness. Therefore, the education authorities thought it prudent to push the exams to a date when the city will be less crowded.
Revised Examination Schedule
On the newly scheduled date, students will be taking different subjects across both Class 10 and 12. Class 10 students will face the Hindi exam in the morning from 8:30 to 11:45 AM, followed by the Healthcare exam in the afternoon from 2:00 to 5:15 PM. Meanwhile, Class 12 students will tackle Military Science in the morning shift and Hindi or General Hindi in the afternoon session.
Insights from the Officials
State Minister of Secondary Education, Gulab Devi, has been vocal about the necessity of this postponement. She highlighted the enormity of the task at hand with over 57 crore devotees expected during the festival, which underscored the need for sound planning. She also took the opportunity to talk tough on exam-related misconduct, stating that anyone attempting to undermine the sanctity of the exams would face severe penalties, including up to ten years of imprisonment and fines reaching ₹10 lakh.
While Prayagraj sees a change in schedule, other areas including districts like Ayodhya and Varanasi will conduct their exams as planned. Authorities there have committed to managing the flow of students to exam centers carefully, ensuring that the procession of devotees does not hinder educational proceedings.
With more than 54 lakh students registered for the exams across the state, and 8,140 centers ready to host these tests, the UPMSP has emphasized a state-level monitoring system to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. This highlights the board's commitment to maintaining educational standards even amid large-scale, culturally significant events like the MahaKumbh.
