In a bid to stop board exam paper leaks, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has partnered with tech giant Microsoft to enhance security.

The report comes following the leak of CBSE class 10 mathematics paper and class 12 economics paper this year. 

"We have developed for CBSE an innovative solution which makes question papers leak-proof until 30 minutes prior to the start of the examinations," Anil Bhansali, Managing Director, Microsoft India (R&D) and Corporate Vice President, Cloud and Enterprise, told a news agency. 

Microsoft and CBSE are deeply committed to digitally transform the sector, he added.

The Controller of Examination can track the entire process using a software solution built on Windows 10 and Office 365.

How is CBSE question paper distributed?
The paper distribution process as follows: 

Step 1: 
In July, the academic unit of CBSE prepares the blueprint of question paper on each subject. The blueprint comprises simple and difficult questions.

Step 2:
The blueprint is then sent to the paper setters. They make a question paper comprising 60 questions (easy question, slightly hard question and difficult question). None of the paper setters knows which question will be selected by the board. 

Step 3: 
Again, these questions are sent to the moderators who review on the basis of blueprint and syllabus. By August, they make three sets - A, B and C. 

Step 4: 
The Board sends the all the set of papers to the printers (also known as security printers). These printers are present throughout the country. The papers are sent on the basis of the centre based quota.

Step 5: 
 A week ahead of the examination, the printed papers (sealed in a box) is sent to the designated bank near the exam centre.

Step 6: 
On the morning of the examination, the CBSE Investigators are informed via SMS that which set of question paper should be taken from the bank. An hour before the examination, the investigators along with guards, the set of question papers are brought to the exam centre.

Step 7: 
The question papers are distributed to students by breaking the canned seal almost 15 minutes before the examination.


Highlights 
CBSE has joined hands with Microsoft to prevent paper leaks. 

This year, the CBSE had conducted the class 12 economics retest on April 25 -- nearly a month after it was leaked. 

Microsoft developed the encrypted security solution for question papers.


HRD Ministry had also set up a committee to examine the process by which the CBSE conducts examinations.