BHAKTAPUR: The National Examination Board (NEB) has announced that Grade 12 exams are starting across Nepal from today, with examination centers operating nationwide. The exams will run daily from 8 AM to 11 AM until May 16.

A total of 1,590 exam centers have been designated within Nepal, along with one international center in Japan. Kathmandu hosts the highest number of centers at 162, while Manang and Mustang each have just one.

NEB has called on students to approach the exams with confidence. To facilitate the smooth conduct of the examinations, the board has assigned center heads, assistant heads, around 2,000 administrative personnel, at least one office assistant per center, and nearly 20,000 security staff, based on the number of candidates.

Altogether, 511,525 students from 5,202 schools will take part in the examinations this year, including 198,875 male and 197,130 female students. Kathmandu has the highest number of candidates at 68,133, while Manang has the lowest with just 45 students.

Examination Controller Krishna Prasad Sharma said the NEB has made special arrangements to support students with disabilities—including those with hearing or visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, and other health conditions. Provisions have also been made for students currently in prisons or juvenile reform centers.

Strict protocols have been enforced to maintain examination integrity. Entry to exam centers without authorization from the District Examination Coordination Committee or the Examination Controller is prohibited. Any officials found neglecting exam procedures will be replaced immediately.

Mobile phones are allowed only for center heads. Students are banned from bringing mobile phones, smartwatches, or any electronic devices other than basic calculators without stored data. Anyone—be it student, teacher, or staff—found carrying restricted items will face legal action under Section 17(1A) ‘F’ of the Education Act, 2028.