With the second year pre-university (PU) exams all set to commence on Thursday, security measures similar to that adopted during elections have been put in place, said Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait.

Addressing the media in the city, he said the respective deputy commissioners have been asked to take charge of security measures. Prohibitory orders would be imposed 200 metres around the examination centres. A total of 6.84 lakh students have registered for the exam to be held at 998 centres across the state. Also, over 4,000 candidates will not be able to appear in the exam owing to shortage of attendance.

Of the 998 exam centres, CCTV cameras have been installed in 510 centres. Of these, 90% are unaided and private colleges. The minister said of the 14 who were held last year for leaking the chemistry paper, eight were out on bail. “Whatever action is taken against repeat offenders just before elections, the same has been done with them as well,” he explained. This time, the department will keep the question papers only in the district treasury under CCTV surveillance with biometric access control.

Addressing a press conference in the evening, C Shikha, director, Department of PU Education (DPUE), said, “Hall tickets have already been dispatched. Action would be taken against colleges who have not given it to the students despite having requisite attendance”.

The department had asked students to enter their details online. But several students are saying that there are errors in their details. To this, Shikha said provisions would be made after the exams to rectify the errors.